Red Bull's Chief F1 Designer Craig Skinner Exits Team Ahead of 2026 Season
In a significant development for the Formula 1 world, Red Bull Racing has confirmed the departure of chief F1 designer Craig Skinner, just two weeks before the start of the 2026 season. Skinner, who had been with the Milton Keynes-based team for an impressive 20 years, has now moved on, dealing an early-season blow to the championship contenders.
A Legacy of Two Decades at Red Bull
Craig Skinner joined Red Bull in 2006, around the same time as the legendary design guru Adrian Newey, who has since become team principal at Aston Martin. Initially starting as a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) engineer, Skinner steadily climbed the ranks through various aerodynamic roles. He served as chief of aerodynamics for four years before being promoted to chief designer in 2022.
In this pivotal role, Skinner worked closely with Newey and technical director Pierre Wache on the ground-effect era cars that dominated the field. Under his design leadership, Red Bull achieved remarkable success, including a near-perfect 2023 season where they won every race except one.
Part of a Broader Trend of Departures
While not directly linked to other exits, Skinner represents the latest in a series of high-profile personnel changes at Red Bull in recent years. The team has seen several key figures depart, including:
- Christian Horner, who was relieved of his duties as F1 CEO last summer
- Adrian Newey, who announced his exit a year earlier
- Former sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, now at Audi
- Chief strategist Will Courtenay, who joined McLaren
Despite these significant losses, Red Bull has maintained competitive performance. Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive world championship in 2024 and came within just two points of winning last year's drivers' title.
Promising Pre-Season Performance Amid Changes
Red Bull has shown impressive form during pre-season testing, particularly notable as this marks their first year building their own engine in partnership with Ford. The RB22 car has demonstrated superior straight-line speed during recent tests in Bahrain, suggesting the team remains a formidable competitor.
However, star driver Max Verstappen has expressed criticism of the new generation of cars, describing them as "anti-racing" and comparing them to "Formula E on steroids" due to their focus on energy deployment systems.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The final pre-season test is scheduled for this week (18-20 February) in Bahrain, with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne set for 8 March. Skinner's departure adds an element of uncertainty as Red Bull prepares to defend their championship legacy against increasingly competitive rivals.
While the team faces challenges with key personnel changes, their recent track record and promising pre-season performance suggest they remain serious contenders for the 2026 championship, even as they navigate this latest transition in their technical leadership.
