Ford have confirmed a return to Formula 1 as an engine supplier from the 20026 season and will power Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Alpha Tauri.
The American automobile giant left F1 in 2004 after it ended its operations with Jaguar which went on to become Red Bull Racing in 2005 and also its badging of Cosworth engines.
Ford now returns ahead of the 2026 season when new engine regulations are set to be taken off which its president and CEO Jim Farley says is the future direction of the company.
“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.”
Ford will be taking over from Japanese auto giants Honda who have powered Red Bull since 2019, which led to Max Verstappen winning the World Championship in 2021 and 2022 and Red Bull winning the Constructor’s Championship for the first time in nine years. Team principal Christian Horner has described this new chapter as “tremendously exciting”.
You’re not dreaming. It’s real. We’re back in #F1, partnering with @RedBullRacing 🏎⚡️ #FordReturns pic.twitter.com/NSLBJ9kQSz
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) February 3, 2023
“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” he said,” 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.”
Red Bull unveiled the livery of its 2023 car at an event in New York City on Friday and will be looking towards lead driver Verstappen winning a third straight Championship when the season commences in Bahrain on March 5.
Pre-season testing will also hold in Bahrain from February 23 to 25.
