Red Bull has partnered with American carmaker Ford to collaborate on power units for the 2026 season of Formula 1. Ford, who has been absent from the sport for nearly 22 years, will re-enter Formula 1 in 2026 and Red Bull has high expectations for the manufacturer to deliver an impressive engine. Ford’s extended contribution to the Austrian constructor was revealed during the 2024 season.
Earlier reports suggested that Ford was considering ending its association with Red Bull due to an investigation, but after the independent investigation cleared Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of any allegations, those rumors subsided. Despite being behind schedule on engine development, Ford is now fully committed to supporting Red Bull.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley, clarified the situation by stating that Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Turbo were not part of Ford’s plan for Red Bull. However, the manufacturer has expertise in modeling and testing, which can be valuable in assisting the Austrian team in Formula 1.
While Ford will continue to develop the engine in certain aspects, their main focus will be on electrical components for the chassis. Nevertheless, Ford is prepared to provide direct and technical support for other elements as well. The success of Red Bull’s partnership with Ford will depend on the performance of the engine under the new regulations.
The regulation changes for the 2026 season have left every manufacturer uncertain about the data. Multiple manufacturers will strive to provide the teams with the best engine possible. Despite the lack of direct comparison with rival teams, Mark Rushbrook, CEO of Ford Performance, expressed unwavering belief in Ford and Red Bull’s capabilities to manufacture a great engine. He acknowledged that while they were unaware of the competition’s development curve, they had their own goals and knew what was required for success.
Red Bull currently benefits from a strong power unit performance from Honda. Therefore, Ford will need to deliver exceptional results to surpass the Japanese manufacturer. With the conclusion of Horner’s investigation, there are no longer any rumors of Ford leaving the team. As a result, the 2026 season promises to be highly exciting with the in-house power units developed by these two giants.