McLaren poaches Red Bull F1 chief strategist Courtenay

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McLaren has announced that it has secured the services of Red Bull chief strategist Will Courtenay who will join the Woking-based outfit as its sporting director.

Courtenay is a long-standing member of Red Bull Racing, having been involved with the team’s strategy unit since the outfit’s inception in 2005.

After a two-decade tenure at Red Bull, culminating in his position as head of race strategy for the past 14 years, Courtenay will move on to McLaren where his expertise will “add further depth to the team’s sporting operation”.

The Briton will report to McLaren’s longtime racing director, Randeep Singh, as it seeks to enhance its on-track performance.

Read also: McLaren says ‘the mission is on’ for F1 championship glory

"We are delighted to welcome Will to McLaren,” commented team papaya’s team principal Andrea Stella.

“His experience, professionalism and passion for motorsport make him the ideal candidate to lead our F1 sporting function.

“We are now entering a key phase in our journey as a team, and we are confident that he will be a great addition to our strong leadership team as we strive to continue challenging for wins and championships."

McLaren has not provided a date for when Courtenay will move to Woking. While he is contracted to Red Bull until mid-2026, it’s likely the two teams will negotiate a compromise to facilitate Courtenay’s passage to McLaren well before the end of his contractual obligations with Red Bull.

"Will has been offered the position of Sporting Director," said a spokesperson for Red Bull.

"After a long and successful service, being with the team since the Jaguar days, we are sad to see him go but wish him all the best in this step up.

"Will continues to be part of the team seeing out his contract until mid-2026."

Courtenay’s exit from Red Bull follows the announcements this summer of the departures of chief technical officer Adrian Newey for Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley for Audi-Sauber.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.