Red Bull Racing Principal Strategy Engineer Hannah Schmitz (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)
Red Bull Racing is set to lose another senior figure, as rivals McLaren have announced Will Courtenay as their new sporting director, starting in mid-2026. Following Courtenay's departure, the Austrian team is expected to promote fan-favorite strategist Hannah Schmitz.
Courtenay has been with the Milton Keynes-based team for two decades, having joined the Jaguar team before Red Bull's takeover and holds the position of head of strategy. Schmitz, who joined the team in 2009, serves as the principal strategy engineer. She has garnered popularity in recent years for executing flawless strategic decisions.
Red Bull Racing's advisor Helmut Marko addressed the exodus of senior personnel from the team. Marko insists that championship-winning organizations are perpetually at risk of losing talent to competitors. He expects an in-house promotion for Schmitz following Courtenay's departure, as they couldn't match McLaren's offer.
