Ford broadens its involvement with Red Bull F1 for 2026.

      "We also aimed to gain deeper insights into electrification."

      Ford has confirmed that its return to Formula 1 next year will involve a comprehensive collaboration with Red Bull’s in-house engine program starting in 2026 and continuing thereafter. "Initially, we were not keen on working with the combustion engine," stated Ford motorsport director Mark Rushbrook in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. "We're pursuing it now because there's still much for us to learn in this field. We originally assisted with parts production, but we are now involved in nearly the entire car and its operational aspects."

      Rushbrook noted that Ford's comeback was driven by the introduction of new regulations, the push for carbon neutrality, and the global resurgence of Formula 1. "We also aimed to enhance our understanding of electrification—specifically battery chemistry, powertrains, inverters, calibration, and control, along with how these components interact with the combustion engine," he elaborated.

      The American automaker has a rich history in F1, boasting 176 wins, 10 constructors' titles, and 13 drivers' championships through Cosworth. However, their previous attempt ended poorly—acquiring Stewart GP in 1999, rebranding it as Jaguar, and ultimately selling it to Red Bull in 2005. "Our last collaboration was with Jaguar, and we realized we weren't particularly good at it," Rushbrook confessed. "Currently, we don’t have a full program with a manufacturer anywhere."

      Now partnering with Red Bull, Ford feels the timing is ideal. "They had just opted to start developing their own program for 2026. The project was in its infancy, and even then, they understood that resources were constrained, even for a major F1 team, especially since Milton Keynes had never developed its own engine previously."

      Since 2019, Red Bull has been using Honda engines in a nearly exclusive partnership, while customer teams like Haas and Williams typically adapt to engines supplied by Ferrari or Mercedes. Meanwhile, Cadillac plans to enter in 2026 with Ferrari engines as a customer before GM develops its own by 2028. "Cadillac will join Formula 1 in 2026 with Ferrari engines, and we welcome any competition," Rushbrook stated. "Whether it’s Ferrari cars with Ferrari engines, Cadillac cars with Ferrari engines, or any other competitors."