The collapse of an empire, a big loss for Red Bull! Another key figure leaves the team, heading for the biggest competition

Loss of dominance and departures of important people. Red Bull has had a really tough last few months, with the departure of chief strategist Will Courtenay now confirmed. He will move to McLaren, but is under contract at Red Bull until mid-2026.

• Red Bull has had a really tough last few months
• Chief strategist Will Courtenay has now confirmed his departure from the team
• His next stop will be McLaren, the current Constructors’ Cup leader

Not only is the era of dominance gone, but so are the people who mattered. Earlier in the season, the brilliant designer Adrian Newey, who is actually the greatest designer in Formula One history, announced his departure from Red Bull. He’s headed to the ambitious Aston Martin.

Also announcing his departure is Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who will become the boss of Audi. And to make matters worse, on Tuesday afternoon, like a bolt from the blue, came the news of the departure of the chief strategist.

Will Courtenay will become McLaren’s sporting director for a change. Currently Red Bull’s biggest rival in the battle for both championships. Both in the drivers and the Constructors’ Cup.

It was McLaren who leapfrogged the Austrian team to the top spot in the Constructors’ Cup and after the Singapore Grand Prix, they already have a 41-point lead. The Drivers’ Championship, however, is hard to come by for McLaren this year. Lando Norris is 52 points behind first-placed Max Verstappen.

A key man is leaving Red Bull!

Courtenay has decided to leave Red Bull after 14 years and it is not yet clear when he will join the Woking-based team. As journalist Erik van Haren notes, the Austrian stable will reportedly keep him under contract until mid-2026.

But the question remains whether this will be enough for McLaren. After all, new rules come into force from 2026, whereupon it is advisable in this context to join a new team preferably for next year. For example, a contract buyout is an option.

“Will comes to McLaren after twenty years at Red Bull Racing, where he is currently Head of Strategy, and brings with him a wealth of experience. Will’s expertise will help to further deepen the team’s sporting activities and help to enhance its performance,” McLaren said on its official website.

“We are now entering a key phase of our journey as a team and we are confident that he will be a great addition to our strong leadership team as we continue to fight for wins and championships,” added team boss Andrea Stella.

Source: F1, McLaren F1, De Telegraaf, Erik van Haren – X