P1racenews AI automatic summary:
In the wake of the key departures of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, this time Red Bull is losing its head of race strategy.
Red Bull has suffered a setback as their head of race strategy, Will Courtenay, has been recruited by F1 rival McLaren. Courtenay, with 20 years at Red Bull, will join McLaren as its sporting director in mid-2026, following major exits like Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley. McLaren aims for Courtenay to enhance their sporting operations, reporting to racing director Randeep Singh. This move is part of McLaren’s quest for continued success in F1, with Courtenay’s experience expected to boost team performance. Red Bull expressed regret at losing Courtenay but wished him well, stating he would stay until mid-2026.
