Red Bull to start F1 season without key technical leader Craig Skinner

Red Bull will kick off the new Formula 1 season with a major absence: Craig Skinner, the team’s longtime chief designer, is leaving after nearly two decades with the organization. Rumors swirled throughout Tuesday morning until Red Bull officially confirmed his departure.

Skinner joined Red Bull in 2006 and worked closely with legendary engineer Adrian Newey, who is now with Aston Martin. His contributions were instrumental in Max Verstappen’s championship runs in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For now, Skinner’s next destination remains unknown, though motorsport outlet RCN365 reports he chose to leave on his own terms.

In its statement, the team said: “After 20 years with the team, Craig Skinner, our Chief Designer, will be leaving the Red Bull Technology team. 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.”

Red Bull has not yet announced who will replace Skinner in the role he has held since 2022. The Formula 1 website suggests the team may appoint an interim replacement. Skinner will not be present for the second round of preseason testing in Bahrain.

A period of upheaval inside Red Bull

Skinner’s exit adds to a turbulent stretch for Red Bull’s leadership. Team principal Christian Horner departed earlier in 2025, followed by the retirement of longtime advisor Helmut Marko, a towering figure in the organization. Those departures were widely seen as the end of an internal power struggle within the Milton Keynes operation.

The team has also undergone restructuring after losing other key figures such as Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay. Just as Red Bull appeared to regain stability—with Pierre Wache leading the technical division and Laurent Mekies serving as team principal—this latest shake-up introduces fresh uncertainty heading into the 2026 season, which marks the debut of Red Bull’s new power unit developed in partnership with Ford.

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