Red Bull Racing are reportedly continuing their internal reshuffle ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with fresh claims suggesting chief designer Craig Skinner did not leave the team voluntarily despite earlier official statements describing his departure as a resignation.
Skinner, who had served as Red Bull’s chief designer since 2022, was widely regarded as one of the key technical figures behind the team’s recent era of dominance. Working closely with legendary designer Adrian Newey, Skinner played an important role in the development of the RB19 — the car that delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in Formula 1 history by winning 21 of the 22 races during the 2023 season.
However, according to reports from Dutch media outlet De Telegraaf, Skinner’s exit was not entirely on his own terms. Speaking on the publication’s Formula 1 podcast, journalist Erik van Haren claimed Red Bull had effectively “shown him the door” as part of a wider restructuring process taking place within the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Official communication from Red Bull had initially framed the situation as another example of a senior figure choosing to move on from the organisation. But Van Haren suggested the reality behind the scenes was very different, insisting the team had actively decided to part ways with Skinner rather than accepting a voluntary resignation.
The revelation adds to growing discussion surrounding the number of experienced personnel leaving Red Bull in recent years. Several prominent members of the technical department have departed amid major changes within the team’s leadership structure and long-term plans for the upcoming regulation era.
One of those figures is veteran technician Ole Schack, whose departure was announced earlier this year. Schack has been with the organisation for more than 25 years and was part of the setup even before the Jaguar team transitioned into Red Bull Racing. According to Van Haren, Schack’s exit is a genuine personal decision, with the long-serving staff member preparing to return home to Denmark after the conclusion of the current campaign.
Van Haren explained that Schack remained deeply committed to the team throughout his career, reportedly missing only three races during the pandemic period. His exit, therefore, is being viewed internally as a natural conclusion to a lengthy and successful chapter.
Skinner’s situation, however, appears far more controversial. Van Haren argued Red Bull’s public messaging attempted to create the impression that another sought-after technical mastermind had simply chosen to leave for a new challenge. Instead, he believes the decision came directly from new team boss Laurent Mekies and senior management as they continue reshaping the organisation for the future.
The Dutch journalist also rejected suggestions that Red Bull has become an unattractive workplace due to the recent wave of departures. He stressed that not every exit should be interpreted as a sign of instability, explaining that in some cases the team itself is making strategic choices about which personnel it wants to retain moving forward.
With Formula 1 preparing for sweeping regulation changes in 2026, Red Bull appear determined to restructure key areas of their technical operation as they aim to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving era of the sport.
