Craig Skinner
Big bang at Red Bull – chief designer leaves the team
Updated on 02/19/2026 – 07:28 amReading time: 1 min.
There is bad news for Red Bull: Shortly before the start of the season, one of the most important men is leaving the Formula 1 racing team.
Shortly before the start of the season, the Formula 1 racing team had to cope with a heavy loss. As the team confirmed, chief designer Craig Skinner is leaving the “Bulls” with immediate effect after 20 years.
The reasons for the surprising departure are not yet known. According to the specialist portal “RacingNews365”, Skinner is said to have taken the step on his own initiative. The motorsport engineer had been with Red Bull since 2006, having previously worked for Jordan and Williams. His career with the team began as an aerodynamics specialist before rising to group leader, later becoming deputy head of aerodynamics and chief aerodynamicist in 2018. He was promoted to chief designer in 2022.
He was heavily involved in the RB19, the most successful car in Formula 1 history, winning all but one race in 2023. “Craig was an important part of our team and contributed a lot to our success,” says an official statement from Red Bull. Who will replace Skinner is currently still open. For world champion Max Verstappen and the team, the departure is a bitter loss – especially now, when every detail could be crucial under the new regulations.
Colleagues describe Skinner as a meticulous and methodical engineer who preferred the drawing board to the spotlight. Unlike some of Formula One’s better-known figures, he rarely sought media attention, instead focusing on refining the minute details that are important to racing success.