Red Bull Racing has confirmed the departure of its chief designer, Craig Skinner, after two decades with the team. The move comes ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season and is described as Skinner's own decision. No details have been provided on his future plans or a replacement.
Red Bull Racing announced the departure of Craig Skinner, its chief designer, following 20 years of service. The news was confirmed to RacingNews365, with the team stating that Skinner will leave the Red Bull Technology team. According to sources, the decision was made by Skinner himself and is unrelated to recent reports of other team departures.
Skinner joined Red Bull in 2006, having previously worked at Jordan and Williams. He began his tenure as a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineer and progressed through several roles. By 2009, he had become group leader, later serving as deputy head of aerodynamics and chief aerodynamicist in 2018. In 2022, Skinner was appointed chief designer, playing a pivotal role in developing the RB19 car for the 2023 season, which is regarded as the most successful machine in Formula 1 history.
The timing of the departure, on the eve of the 2026 F1 season, has been described as a significant blow to Max Verstappen and the team by GPblog. However, Red Bull's official statement emphasizes gratitude for Skinner's contributions. "After 20 years with the team, Craig Skinner, our Chief Designer, will be leaving the Red Bull Technology team," the statement read. "Craig has been an integral part of our team and its success, and we would like to thank him for his hard work and commitment. The whole Red Bull team wishes him all the best for the future."
At present, there is no information regarding Skinner's next steps or who will succeed him at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
