Red Bull Chief Designer Craig Skinner Departs After 20 Years

Red Bull Racing's chief designer, Craig Skinner, has left the team with immediate effect, marking another significant departure from the reigning Formula 1 world champions. Skinner, a 20-year veteran who rose through the ranks from a CFD engineer to head of aerodynamics and then chief designer, played a key role in the team's dominant car designs.

Why it matters:

Skinner's exit is the latest in a series of high-profile personnel changes at Red Bull, following the departures of technical mastermind Adrian Newey, advisor Helmut Marko, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. This ongoing brain drain raises questions about the long-term stability and technical continuity of a team that has defined the current era of F1.

The details:

• Red Bull confirmed Skinner's departure in a statement, noting he was leaving "after 20 years with the team" and thanking him for his "hard work and commitment."
• Reports suggest the decision was Skinner's own, indicating a voluntary move rather than a dismissal.
• His career at Red Bull traced the team's rise to prominence, beginning in 2006 as a computational fluid dynamics engineer before advancing to head of aerodynamics and ultimately to the chief designer role.
• His departure follows other major shifts in Red Bull's leadership and technical structure over the past year.

The big picture:

The cumulative loss of experienced personnel like Skinner, Newey, and Marko represents a substantial challenge for Red Bull. While the team possesses immense depth and talent, replacing decades of combined championship-winning experience is not instantaneous. The focus now shifts to how Technical Director Pierre Waché and the rest of the engineering team will manage this transition and maintain their competitive edge against resurgent rivals like Ferrari and McLaren.

What's next:

Red Bull will need to swiftly consolidate its remaining technical leadership to prepare for the 2026 regulation changes, which demand entirely new car concepts. Skinner's next career move is not yet known, but his expertise will be highly sought after in the paddock. For Red Bull, the priority is ensuring the 2025 car development remains on track while building the foundations for the next generation of challengers.