Red Bull Chief Designer Craig Skinner Departs Team Ahead of 2026 Season

Red Bull Racing has confirmed the departure of Chief Designer Craig Skinner, effective immediately. The move comes as the team prepares for the 2026 Formula 1 season, marked by the introduction of their first Power Unit developed in partnership with Ford.

A Two-Decade Tenure

Skinner joined Red Bull in 2006, initially as a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) engineer. He progressed through the ranks, becoming group leader in 2009, deputy head of aerodynamics, and chief aerodynamicist in 2018 . He was appointed Chief Designer in 2022, playing a crucial role in the design of the highly successful RB19 car that dominated the 2023 season, winning 21 of 22 races .

Key Contributor to Red Bull’s Success

Skinner’s work was integral to Red Bull’s four consecutive World Championship titles from 2021 to 2024 with Max Verstappen . He collaborated closely with Adrian Newey, who has since moved to Aston Martin, and current Technical Director Pierre Wache.

Recent Departures and Team Restructuring

Skinner’s departure follows a series of high-profile exits from Red Bull, including former team boss Christian Horner and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who now heads up Audi’s F1 team . Chief strategist Will Courtenay has too moved to McLaren.

Looking Ahead

Red Bull has stated that Skinner’s role will be covered internally for the time being. The team, now under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, is focused on pre-season testing in Bahrain, where their new Ford-powered engine has already demonstrated promising reliability and performance . The 2026 season opener is scheduled for March 6-8 in Australia.