American automobile giant Ford has been linked with a return to Formula 1 and a potential partnership with reigning constructor champions Red Bull Racing.
Ford was last involved in F1 in 2004 when it owned the Jaguar. The team’s operations were then sold to Red Bull who have gone on to win five constructor championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022).
According to Autosport, Ford is interested in returning to F1, especially as the interest in the sport has grown significantly in the United States with three races (Miami, Austin and Las Vegas) confirmed for the 2023 calendar.
This interest is not in supplying engines as Red Bull has its own power unit divisions (Red Bull Power Trains) after taking over Honda’s power unit operations following the Japanese manufacturer’s withdrawal from the sport at the end of 2021. The interest is neither in taking over the Red Bull team but rather a tie-up like a technical partnership or badging of its engine cover.
Red Bull held talks with German automobile maker Porsche earlier in 2022 ahead of new engine regulations in 2026 but it collapsed over suggestions the Stuttgart-based outfit was keen on taking over the entire Red Bull operation which the Austrian team was not ready to agree to.
Red Bull clinched its first constructor championship in 9 years after Max Verstappen won the drivers championship for the second year in a row in dominant fashion, winning 15 out of 22 races in 2022.
