Craig Skinner, the long-serving chief designer at Red Bull Racing, has departed the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 team, Autosport has confirmed. His exit follows widespread speculation and marks the end of a significant chapter for a team that has dominated the sport in recent seasons. Skinner was widely regarded as a pivotal figure in engineering the car designs that powered Max Verstappen to four consecutive Formula 1 world championships from 2021 to 2024.

His deep technical knowledge and innovative approach were credited as essential components of Red Bull's success during this period of unprecedented dominance. The departure raises immediate questions about the future direction of the team's car development strategy and the potential impact on maintaining their competitive edge in the highly technical world of F1. While the team has not yet announced a permanent replacement, the search for Skinner's successor will be closely watched by the F1 community.

His departure signifies a major leadership change within the technical hierarchy of one of motorsport's most successful outfits.