Overview
- Courtenay confirmed he has already begun at McLaren during the winter break after the teams agreed to waive his planned gardening leave through mid‑2026.
- The veteran strategist spent 22 years with Red Bull, including roughly 15 years leading its race strategy department.
- His new Sporting Director role at McLaren carries a wider remit than his previous strategy-focused position.
- The move extends a year of senior exits from Red Bull, with recent departures including Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and Jonathan Wheatley.
- Reporting indicates Red Bull is planning internal promotions, with Gianpiero Lambiase expected to take on greater responsibility in 2026 as other teams show interest.