Ford will return to Formula 1 in 2026, working with Red Bull Racing in the top tier of motorsport.
The car maker says it will focus on hybrid elements of the turbocharged engines used by the likes of Max Verstappen, drawing on its experience building electric cars such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The blue oval will Honda as the technical partner for Red Bull Racing and its sister team Scuderia AlphaTauri, producing powertrains as “Red Bull Ford” from 2026 to at least 2030.
While Ford has not participated in the modern F1 era, it has a significant history in the sport, having powered drivers to 174 race wins.
Jim Farley, President and chief executive of the Ford Motor Company, said F1 is increasingly relevant to road cars.
“Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company – increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences,” he said.
“F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers.”
Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said Ford and Red Bull Powertrains will develop a 350kW electric motor and new combustion engine for the next generation of F1 cars.
“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” he said. “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.
“They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations. 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.”
Ford’s Farley said the brand will be involved in more high-end motorsport than any other manufacturer, combining its F1 foray with a tilt at the World Rally Championship, plus Dakar and Baja rally campaigns for the Ford Ranger Raptor. The Ford Mustang will race in the Le Mans 24 Hours, along with Supercars, NASCAR and pro drag racing series.
