Red Bull has suffered another major blow following the exit of Sergio Pérez, as longtime design chief Craig Skinner departs after 20 years. With key figures already gone and 2026 rule changes looming, pressure mounts on a reshaped leadership group.
Red Bull Racing has announced a new departure following the multiple problems it has faced since Sergio Pérez's dismissal.
Red Bull has suffered a major blow just before the start of the new season, as Craig Skinner, its design director, has left the Milton Keynes-based team after more than 20 years of service.
The departure of the Briton, who was key to the team's recent successes, comes at a critical time, in the midst of preparations for the new competition year. Skinner was one of the pillars of Red Bull's technical department. Over two decades, he established himself in the Austrian team, becoming the main architect behind the RB19, the car that allowed him to win almost every race in 2023.
Red Bull has officially confirmed his departure through various media outlets, including GPFans. Skinner's departure is not an isolated incident, but part of a recent trend of internal restructuring.
In the last year and a half, several senior figures have chosen to join the competition: Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin, Rob Marshall left for McLaren, and Jonathan Wheatley decided to take on a new challenge at Audi.
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In addition, the team's management has undergone profound changes. In July 2025, Laurent Mekies took over as CEO and team principal following the departure of Christian Horner after twenty years at the helm. Even advisor Helmut Marko has now retired, underscoring the magnitude of the transformation within the team.
The timing of the departure is even more significant given the major rule changes coming into effect this year. For the first time, Red Bull will compete with its own power unit alongside Ford.
Although winter testing in Bahrain has raised expectations, Skinner's absence adds pressure to the rest of the technical team, led by Pierre Waché. This week, the team is preparing for the final test session in Bahrain, with Verstappen taking the wheel on Thursday and Isack Hadjar starting the day for the team.
What happened to Checo Pérez at Red Bull?
When his career seemed to be over, Pérez was picked up by Red Bull in late 2020 as a replacement for Alexander Albon. The Mexican drove for the Milton Keynes team for four seasons, winning five Grand Prix races and two constructors' titles during that time.
However, his form was below average, especially in 2024: he finished eighth in the drivers' standings, while his teammate Max Verstappen was crowned champion with two races and one sprint to go.
Pérez also caused more damage than any other driver, and Red Bull missed out on tens of millions in prize money by finishing third in the constructors' championship.
After months of rumors, the decision was made and it was announced that Liam Lawson would take Pérez's place in 2025, becoming Verstappen's fifth teammate at Red Bull.
After weeks of speculation, the Mexican driver confirmed his return to the top flight with Cadillac for the 2026 World Championship.
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