At Alpine, unpleasant surprises are clearly no longer limited to on-track results. Now, they can also occur in the offices, when finalizing a recruitment. The French team thought it had landed Craig Skinner, former chief designer at Red Bull Racing and one of the architects of Max Verstappen's winning cars. An experienced engineer, with over twenty years spent in a world championship team and highly sought-after technical expertise. But then, Cadillac intervened…
Skinner escapes Alpine, and Cadillac takes the prize.
According to revelations by journalist Ludo van Denderen , published by GPblog , Skinner had already signed a legally binding contract with Alpine when the American team, Cadillac , submitted a more advantageous offer to him.
An offer he reportedly accepted. The French team then allegedly tried to block his transfer, notably by demanding a contractual inactivity period. But the latest development seems to vindicate the Americans.
Craig Skinner is now expected to take up his position at Cadillac on November 18, in line with the initially planned schedule. Alpine had found the engineer . Cadillac found the arguments to convince him. And clearly, they weren't the same.
A recruitment process that seemed to be complete, however.
The story dates back to the summer of 2026.
After leaving Red Bull Racing , Craig Skinner quickly attracted the attention of several Formula 1 teams . His profile was certainly appealing. For over two decades, the Briton worked within Red Bull 's technical organization , holding key positions in aerodynamics and then in car design. He contributed to the development of the cars that enabled Max Verstappen to clinch his world titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
For Alpine , recruiting such a specialist would represent a valuable opportunity to strengthen its technical department. Skinner reportedly signed a formal employment contract with the French team. However, a signature alone does not appear to have been enough to secure his arrival.
Cadillac pulls out the checkbook
While Alpine thought it had secured its recruit, Cadillac reportedly made a more financially attractive counter-offer. But the appeal of the American project isn't necessarily limited to salary.
A new team on the grid, Cadillac still needs to build the technical foundations for its ambitions. For an experienced engineer, participating in this venture also represents the opportunity to play a significant role in the development of the organization. Rather than joining an already established department, Skinner can contribute to defining the methods and technical direction of his new employer.
The Briton ultimately chose the American offer.
On September 24th, Cadillac officially announced his recruitment as chief development engineer. The announcement appeared to be a perfectly concluded transfer. But Alpine hadn't given up yet.
Alpine is trying to enforce the contract
According to GPblog , the French team reacted very negatively to this about-face. The reason is clear: while Craig Skinner had indeed signed a legally binding agreement, his departure for a rival team raised a genuine contractual issue.
Alpine reportedly requested a postponement of his start date at Cadillac . The aim was to enforce a period during which the engineer could not work for another team. This mechanism, known as gardening leave , is common in Formula 1. It notably limits the immediate transfer of sensitive technical information between rival teams. Depending on the contracts, this period can last several months. However, its application depends on the specific clauses signed and the applicable law.
The precise content of Skinner 's contract with Alpine has not been made public. It would therefore be premature to conclude that there was a legal wrongdoing or an unlawful termination.
On November 18, Cadillac is expected to have the final say
The latest development in the case came on November 10th. According to Ludo van Denderen , Craig Skinner is now expected to join Cadillac on November 18th. In other words, despite previously reported objections from Alpine , the American team's planned schedule will remain unchanged.
This is a significant development. Initial reports suggested a deadlock of several months, or even a protracted legal dispute. For now, the details of a potential resolution have not been disclosed. No financial agreement, contractual waiver, or court decision has been publicly announced.
But operationally, Cadillac seems to have obtained what it was looking for: to be able to quickly rely on its new engineer.
Alpine was asking for time. Cadillac is getting Skinner back. And in this affair, the clock seems to have turned against the French.
A significant boost for Cadillac
The recruitment of Craig Skinner is not an isolated move. Cadillac also announced the arrival of two other experienced specialists. Eric Blandin , former head of aerodynamics at Mercedes and then deputy technical director at Aston Martin , takes over as head of the aerodynamics department. Tim Lean , whose experience includes stints at McLaren , Red Bull Racing , and Ferrari , becomes head of aerodynamic modeling and simulation.
Three new recruits with considerable experience in several major teams. For Marcin Budkowski , director of Cadillac , the objective is to build a technical organization capable of sustainable progress.
The American team is clearly not looking to settle for a symbolic presence in Formula 1. It wants to strengthen its skills, accelerate the development of its cars and reduce the gap with the historic teams.
Ambitions, but also very real problems.
Despite its investments, Cadillac is discovering the challenges of the sport. The 2026 season was marked by several reliability issues.
In Mexico, Valtteri Bottas crashed after his front left suspension failed at high speed. In Brazil, the Finn wasn't even able to start the race. A wheel nut failure prevented the mechanics from removing a tire and fitting the required set. These incidents highlight the complexity of Formula 1 , even for a manufacturer with significant resources.
The arrival of Craig Skinner should help structure the development of the future car. But no engineer, however experienced, can single-handedly transform a rookie team into a title contender. Progress will require time, stability, and effective coordination between the various departments.
Alpine loses more than just a name
For Alpine , this affair has symbolic significance. The French team has been trying for several seasons to regain sustainable competitiveness.
Recruiting a former Red Bull Racing designer would have sent a strong message. He would have brought valuable experience to a team undergoing a major technical overhaul. But seeing a candidate join a rival team after, according to available information, having signed a contract is an embarrassing situation.
And the fact that this team is Cadillac , a newcomer to the championship, adds a particularly intriguing dimension. The American team doesn't yet have the track record of its rivals. But it's demonstrating that it can compete with them in terms of skill.
A battle which, in Formula 1 , counts almost as much as that of the drivers.
Cadillac wins the battle, Alpine has to go back to the drawing board
At this stage, Craig Skinner 's signing with Cadillac is official. His actual arrival, announced for November 18, remains to be confirmed.
But the sports training program is already proving attractive: Cadillac is attracting engineers from top-performing teams. Alpine , despite its experience and infrastructure, is struggling to retain some of the profiles it covets.
The difference isn't measured solely in performance or budget. It also concerns the teams' ability to convince the best specialists to join their project.
In Formula 1 driver transfers , we were already familiar with the drivers who bring their sponsors with them. Now, we'll also need to keep an eye on the engineers who leave with better offers.
At Alpine , they thought they had locked down recruitment. At Cadillac , all it took was writing a check to break the deadlock.
🚨 | A BAD SURPRISE for Alpine! 😬
Craig Skinner (former chief designer at Red Bull) had signed a contract with Alpine. Then Cadillac made him a better offer… which he accepted.
Alpine is trying everything to block the move and force him to remain on furlough.
( @GPblog_com ) pic.twitter.com/lBotxvVVgx
— Alpine Nation (@Alpine_Nation) November 10, 2026
