According to a recent report, Aston Martin have shown interest in bringing back former Red Bull designer Craig Skinner. The move could see him link up again with team principal Adrian Newey.
There’s already been plenty of discussion about Honda’s engine issues following pre-season testing, but the sessions in Bahrain have also brought attention to some weaknesses in Newey’s design.
Some believe that Honda’s ability to make improvements is being restricted by how tightly the AMR26 is packaged. It’s a topic that continues to be debated as the season approaches.
The car has also been fitted with numerous cooling vents, far more than what other teams are using. This has raised questions about whether Newey’s aggressive approach might be contributing to overheating issues.
Skinner could be reunited with Newey at Aston Martin
And it might help to have another experienced designer to balance things out, especially someone Newey already knows well.
That’s why talk of Aston Martin bringing in Skinner makes sense. Red Bull recently confirmed that Skinner, who had been with them since 2006, had left the team with immediate effect.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Skinner is expected to serve at least six months of gardening leave. It’s a situation similar to when Aston Martin signed Newey – he joined the team in September 2024 but didn’t start until the following March.
The timing of his exit suggests he may already have his next move lined up. And there are growing rumours in the UK linking him with a switch to Aston Martin.
Skinner was part of the Red Bull design group that produced eight title-winning cars between 2010 and 2024, first for Sebastian Vettel and then for Max Verstappen.
Lawrence Stroll’s spending spree at Aston Martin isn’t working
Newey isn’t the only big name Aston Martin have brought in. Enrico Cardile, who used to be Ferrari’s technical director, has joined up as well. Dan Fallows, another former Red Bull aerodynamicist, was with the team for a short spell before departing last year.
Stroll also added Andy Cowell to the setup, known for his time as head of Mercedes’ power unit program. Cowell even had a brief stint as team principal in 2025 before falling out of favour in a power struggle with Newey. He now serves as chief strategic officer and is working closely with Honda to address their engine issues.
Cowell’s future with the team looks uncertain, though, with reports suggesting he could move on at the end of 2026 despite Stroll’s efforts to keep him.
Aston Martin have spent heavily on high-profile hires, but so far it hasn’t paid off. The team are off to a slow start under new regulations, raising questions about whether the recruitment drive was planned properly or just reactive.
Now more than ever it seems like Stroll needs to step back and allow those already in place a chance to put things right rather than continuing down an increasingly risky path.
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