Red Bull's Chief Designer Exits Weeks Before F1 Season, Threatening Verstappen's Title Bid

Max Verstappen is finalising his preparations for the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2026 Formula One season in March. However, Red Bull Racing has suffered a significant setback with the departure of a long-serving team member, casting a shadow over the Dutch driver's quest for a fifth world championship.

Key Designer's Departure Shakes Red Bull

Craig Skinner, Red Bull's chief designer, is set to leave the Formula One team just as the new season approaches. Having been a pivotal figure within the team for the past four years, his exit could severely impact Max Verstappen's ambitions to secure another Drivers' Championship in 2026.

According to reports from Planet F1, Skinner, a University of Glasgow graduate, has chosen to depart, concluding a remarkable 20-year tenure with Red Bull. He initially joined the company in 2006 as a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) engineer.

A statement from Red Bull confirmed: "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."

Wider Team Restructuring and Previous Season's Challenges

Skinner's departure is not an isolated incident. Red Bull has undergone substantial changes over the past year, which could further affect Verstappen's chances of clinching a fifth world title.

Laurent Mekies now leads the organisation, having taken over from Christian Horner shortly after last season's British Grand Prix.
Helmut Marko announced his exit from the team at the end of 2025.
Four staff members, including Alice Hedworth, were dismissed earlier this month as part of ongoing restructuring efforts.

The 2025 season proved challenging for Verstappen on the track. The 28-year-old was narrowly defeated for the championship by just two points, losing out to McLaren's Lando Norris.

Despite Verstappen winning more races than Norris throughout the year—eight compared to his rival's seven—it was podium finishes that ultimately decided the title. Norris secured 18 podium spots, while Verstappen achieved a commendable 15.

McLaren's Dominance and Red Bull's Struggles

McLaren also triumphed in the Constructors' Championship, thanks to outstanding performances from both Norris and Oscar Piastri. Piastri finished third in the Drivers' standings, trailing Verstappen by only 11 points.

McLaren amassed a total of 833 points, followed by Mercedes in second place with 469 points, and Red Bull in third with 451 points. Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda finished 17th in the Drivers' standings, earning 33 points but no victories or podium finishes.

Driver Line-up Changes and Verstappen's Uncertain Future

For the 2026 season, Isack Hadjar is set to move up from the Racing Bulls to partner Verstappen, while Tsunoda has been relegated to a reserve and testing role. However, Verstappen's own future with Red Bull has recently been clouded by uncertainty.

The driver has expressed dissatisfaction with new rules and regulations introduced by Formula One. During the first week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Verstappen voiced his concerns: "As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids. As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out. And at the moment, you cannot drive like that. There's a lot going on. A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that's just not Formula 1. Maybe it's better to drive Formula E, right? Because that's all about energy efficiency and management. That's what they stand for. Driving-wise, it's not so fun."

This combination of key personnel losses, team restructuring, and driver discontent presents a formidable challenge for Red Bull as they head into the 2026 Formula One season, potentially jeopardising Max Verstappen's pursuit of a fifth world championship title.