Red Bull clarifies status of departing staff Wheatley and Courtenay
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Red Bull has provided an update on the status of two senior team members, Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay, who are set to join rival teams in the future.
In a sport where personnel moves can often feel as dramatic as the on-track action, the Milton Keynes-based outfit has clarified the gardening leave periods of both men.
While Wheatley will join Sauber as its team principal earlier than initially anticipated, Courtenay will be staying in his current position with Red Bull longer than expected before heading to McLaren.
Here's a breakdown of the moves and their implications.
Wheatley's Accelerated Departure to Sauber
Red Bull's long-serving sporting director has been a cornerstone of the team since 2006, overseeing operations during their meteoric rise to dominance.
Wheatley's next chapter, as Sauber's team principal, was announced back in August.
Initially, it was understood that the Briton would remain with Red Bull through the 2024 season, with his gardening leave carrying him to a July 2025 start date at Sauber.
However, Red Bull has now confirmed an earlier exit for Wheatley.
He has entered gardening leave and will be free to join Sauber by April 1, 2025, shortly after the start of the season, and before round three of the championship in Japan.
The Swiss outfit announced on Wednesday that its current team representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, will depart at the end of January, leaving a gap that COO and CTO Mattia Binotto will temporarily fill until Wheatley assumes his new role.
Given Wheatley's wealth of experience, his early start will be a boon for Sauber as they continue their transformation under Audi's ownership ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.
Courtenay's Delayed Move to McLaren
In contrast to Wheatley's expedited exit, Red Bull has opted to hold onto its chief strategist, Will Courtenay, for a longer period.
Courtenay, who was announced as McLaren's future sporting director in September, had been expected to negotiate an earlier exit to join his new team.
However, Red Bull has made it clear that Courtenay will fulfill his current contract, therefore remaining in his role on Red Bull's pitwall through the 2025 season.
Following the conclusion of that season, Courtenay will enter a gardening leave period, meaning he is unlikely to begin his tenure at McLaren until mid-2026.
This move aligns with Red Bull's efforts to maintain stability within their operations.
McLaren Playing the Long Game
The team clearly values Courtenay's expertise and sees him as a critical piece of their continued dominance through the next two seasons.
For McLaren, this means waiting longer to integrate Courtenay into their team. His new role as sporting director will see him reporting to racing director Randeep Singh as part of team papaya's continued efforts to strengthen its racing operations.
While the delay may not be ideal for McLaren, it's clear that the Woking-based outfit is willing to play the long game to secure Courtenay's services.
As Wheatley prepares to lead Sauber into a new era and Courtenay continues to call the shots on Red Bull's pit wall, both moves underscore how personnel decisions can ripple across the grid.
For now, Red Bull retains one of its key tactical minds while bidding farewell to another—a reflection of the ever-shifting dynamics of the sport, where even the pit wall sees its share of drama.
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