Purple Bull F1 veteran Will Courtenay has been given permission to affix McLaren as sporting director forward of schedule.
Reigning constructors’ champion McLaren introduced that they had signed Courtenay for 2024, however had been unable to launch him from his present contract with Purple Bull as head of technique.
Purple Bull’s authentic plan was for Courtenay to spend the rest of his contract on gardening go away till mid-2026, earlier than becoming a member of McLaren as sporting director.
Nonetheless, forward of the primary pre-season check of the 2026 season on the finish of January, Courtenay introduced on LinkedIn that he had begun his position at McLaren.
“I’m delighted to share my new place as Sporting Director at McLaren Racing,” he wrote.
“After 22 years with Purple Bull Racing, the final 15 years as Head of Race Technique, I’m thrilled to have the ability to say I’m embarking on a brand new problem by becoming a member of the McLaren Racing F1 Crew as Sporting Director.
“I want to say an enormous thanks to everybody I labored with at Purple Bull.
“I made so many nice mates there and I hope I proceed to see many extra within the paddock. It’s been an incredible 20-plus years.
“However for now I’m wanting ahead to getting used to my new position and workforce, hopefully making extra new mates and doing my finest to assist McLaren proceed its current success over the approaching years.”
Courtenay’s time at Purple Bull consists of 4 titles with Sebastian Vettel between 2010 and 2013, and 4 extra titles with Max Verstappen between 2021 and 2024.
He’s the most recent main departure from the Milton Keynes-based aspect, following Christian Horner’s departure as workforce principal in mid-2025.
Purple Bull additionally misplaced legendary designer Adrian Newey to Aston Martin in 2025, whereas Helmut Marko additionally misplaced his position on the finish of final season.
Verstappen’s race engineer Giampiero Lambiase can also be rumored to be concerned in roles at Williams and Aston Martin.
