Max Verstappen suffers big blow as Red Bull chief designer quits on eve of 2026 season
Red Bull’s chief designer has left the Formula One team on the eve of the new season in a major blow to Max Verstappen’s hopes of reclaiming the Drivers’ Championship in 2026
Max Verstappen has suffered a blow on the eve of the new season(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Red Bull’s chief designer Craig Skinner has left the Formula One team on the eve of the new season. Having been integral to the squad for the past four years, his departure could deal a significant blow to Max Verstappen’s ambitions of reclaiming a Drivers’ Championship in 2026.
According to Planet F1, the University of Glasgow graduate’s departure was his own decision, bringing to a close a 20-year association with Red Bull – having joined the organisation in 2006 as a CFD engineer. A statement from the team read: “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.”
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It’s not the only change the team has experienced over the past year or so, with a major overhaul also potentially affecting Verstappen’s chances of securing a fifth world championship. Laurent Mekies now leads the organisation after replacing Christian Horner just days after last season’s British Grand Prix.
Helmut Marko also confirmed his exit from the team at the end of 2025, whilst four personnel – including Alice Hedworth – were dismissed earlier this month in further restructuring efforts. It proved a challenging season on track for Verstappen in 2025, as the 28-year-old was denied the title by just two points by McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Whilst Verstappen clinched more victories than Norris throughout the year – eight compared to his rival’s seven – podium finishes ultimately tipped the balance, with the Briton securing 18 spots to the Dutch-Belgian’s commendable 15.
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McLaren also reigned supreme in the Constructors’ Championship due to stellar performances from both Norris and Oscar Piastri, who finished third in the Drivers’ standings, just 11 points behind Verstappen.
Isack Hadjar will be promoted from the Racing Bulls to join Verstappen for 2026, whilst Tsunoda has been relegated to a reserve and testing role. However, Verstappen’s own future with the team has recently been shrouded in uncertainty, with the driver expressing frustration with the new rules and regulations set out by F1.
Speaking during the first week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, he said: “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.”
