RED BULL LOSES ANOTHER KEY FIGURE AHEAD OF 2026 SEASON
Red Bull Racing has lost another key architect of its recent Formula 1 dominance, as Chief Designer Craig Skinner has departed the team ahead of the second week of pre-season testing.
Skinner played an important role in the success that led to Max Verstappen’s four Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championships and was widely regarded as a central figure in Red Bull’s modern technical structure.
He joined Red Bull Racing in 2006 as a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) engineer, contributing during the team’s formative years following its arrival in Formula 1. Over time, Skinner rose through the ranks, becoming Head of Aerodynamics in 2018, a position he held until April 2022. He was then promoted to Chief Designer, taking responsibility for leading the design office and overseeing the team’s research and development department.
Skinner’s expertise in aerodynamics and simulation proved instrumental in delivering competitive machinery under the ground-effect regulations introduced in 2022. Working alongside Adrian Newey, Enrico Balbo and Ben Waterhouse, he helped shape the cars that returned Red Bull to the top of the Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 2013.
Max Verstappen’s four world titles are closely linked to the technical work carried out by Skinner and the wider Red Bull design team. Between 2021 and 2024, Verstappen secured 53 victories in 90 races, claiming four Drivers’ Championships. Three of those titles came in dominant fashion, particularly in 2023 and 2024, when he finished comfortably ahead of teammate Sergio Pérez. His 2025 championship battle, fought against Lando Norris, confirmed the era as one of the most successful periods in the team’s history.
While Skinner’s next move in motorsport remains unclear, he leaves Red Bull with a substantial legacy after two decades of service.
His departure adds to a list of high-profile exits from the Milton Keynes-based team, including former Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, former Head of Strategy Will Courtenay and former Chief Engineer Rob Marshall, signaling a period of significant internal transition within Red Bull Racing.
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