Red Bull has pulled off a coup by reaching a deal with Ford which will bring the American car maker back to Formula 1 in 2026.
Ford’s return to compete in F1 for the first time since 2004 was announced before Red Bull presented its new livery for the 2023 F1 season.
The manufacturer will collaborate with Red Bull’s Powertrains division on producing power units for the new 2026 engines. They will be raced with Red Bull plus its junior team AlphaTauri.
Ford executive chair Bill Ford said its return to F1 is “the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company.
“Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”
Ford said the growing popularity of F1, plus its commitment to introducing sustainable fuels and increasing the use of electric power by its cars, were the key reasons for its decision to return.
Red Bull set up its own powertrains division following the departure of Honda at the end of 2021. It explored a tie-up with Porsche last year, but decided against forming a relationship with the German sports car brand.
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“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition.”
Ford funded the creation of the Cosworth DFV V8, which became one the most dominant F1 engines following its introduction in 1967, powering a succession of drivers and teams to world championships. It returned with a turbo engine in 1986 for the former Haas team, before partnering with Benetton and eventually taking Michael Schumacher to the world championship with Benetton in 1994.
After transferring its engines to the new Stewart team in 1997, Ford rebranded the operation as Jaguar three years later, but sold the team to Red Bull at the end of 2004.
“They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations,” Horner continued. “From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself.
“For us as Red Bull Powertrains to open the next chapter of that dynasty, as Red Bull Ford, is tremendously exciting. 2026 is still a while a way but for us the work already starts as we look to a new future and a continued evolution of Oracle Red Bull Racing.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the manufacturer’s return. “The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1,” he said.
“They are a global brand with an incredible heritage in the racing and automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world.
“Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing ’round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.”
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