There’s a different mood around Red Bull these days. Laurent Mekies is leading the charge, and there’s a clear sense of change in direction.
The old guard’s approach of treating every rival like an enemy is gone. Mekies and the new leadership have brought in a fresh way of working, one that doesn’t feel as hostile.
Will Courtenay’s exit adds to a growing list of departures from Milton Keynes over recent seasons. Once their Head of Strategy, he’s now moved on too.
This time, though, Red Bull reached an agreement with McLaren to let him go early, before his contract ran out. That wouldn’t have happened under Christian Horner’s watch.
How much it hurts them will come down to how well they fill those gaps. In some roles, the knowledge and experience lost won’t be easily replaced.
On the plus side for Verstappen, keeping Gianpiero Lambiase around for another year is huge. He’s an important part of Verstappen’s setup and could play a key role in any title push next season.
McLaren’s early move for Will Courtenay signals a shift in Red Bull’s approach
Many believe Verstappen can win the 2026 title, but nothing is certain. The team faces a huge task with their new engine project, and replacing key people like Helmut Marko won’t be easy.
Another quiet loss will be Will Courtenay, who has been at the helm of their strategy department since 2010. He’ll now take on the role of Sporting Director at McLaren.
Mekies had hinted that Red Bull would begin operating differently even before this move became official. Speaking to Autosport during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November, he spoke about how his side will “go about our business.”
Red Bull are now willing to act in line with those words.
Mekies is also showing his respect for teams beyond the top three. After finishing sixth last season, Red Bull needs to keep an eye on the competition throughout the grid.
Hannah Schmitz is more than capable of filling the void left by Will Courtenay
Will Courtenay will be missed, but Hannah Schmitz, who looks likely to take on his responsibilities, has shown plenty of ability during her time with Red Bull.
Schmitz currently serves as the team’s Principal Strategy Engineer and has previously taken charge when Courtenay was unavailable.
She’s been in that role since 2021, but her connection to the team goes much deeper. Having joined Red Bull at the end of 2009, she brings nearly two decades of experience and deep institutional knowledge.
Red Bull should have enough depth to manage the transition over the next few months and remain competitive by the time they arrive in Australia for the season opener. Even so, it’s likely to be a challenging spell as they adjust.
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