Ford's F1 return with Red Bull — how it will work

Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford, has hailed the brand’s return to Formula 1 as “a thrilling new chapter” bringing Ford’s heritage to motor sport’s most visible stage, with the collaboration set to run until at least 2030.

The blue oval’s reappearance on an F1 engine cover in 2026 will come more than 20 years after Ford last powered a grand prix car — Jordan’s 2004 challenger.

But its heritage dates from decades before when Ford’s inaugural grand prix engine, the Cosworth DFV, dominated F1. Having made a winning debut in the back of Jim Clark’s Lotus 49 at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix, the 3-litre V8 engine powered multiple championship-winning cars through the 1970s.

Ford’s technical partnership with Cosworth brought further championships with Benetton and Michael Schumacher in the 1990s, although its more direct involvement through Stewart and Jaguar, which began later that decade, was less successful.

To date, Ford-badged engines have contributed to 10 constructors’ and 13 drivers’ titles.  The 2026 partnership with Red Bull aims to extend and update this legacy in the hybrid-electric era of Formula 1.

Is Ford building its own F1 engine?

Ford is not building a Formula 1 engine entirely on its own for the 2026 season, but it is playing a significant role in the development of the new power unit that will power Red Bull Racing and sister team Racing Bulls.

Under the agreement, the newly-established Red Bull Powertrains will design and build the next-generation hybrid power unit, while Ford will contribute crucial technology and engineering expertise.

Its involvement focuses on key areas such as internal combustion engine development, battery cells, electric motor systems, and control software.

This means the engine will be developed under a “Red Bull-Ford” banner rather than as a purely Ford-badged power unit.

The project represents a major commitment by Ford to F1’s new regulatory era, which places greater emphasis on electrification and sustainable fuels.

What is Red Bull Ford Powertrains?

Red Bull Powertrains is Red Bull Racing’s in-house engine division, created following Honda’s decision to exit Formula 1.

Christian Horner, the former Red Bull Racing team principal, played a significant role in establishing the division to ensure Red Bull maintained full control over its power unit development.

Initially, the division maintained and prepared Honda’s engines for Red Bull and its sister team, AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls, while transitioning toward independent power unit development.

The deal with Ford preserves Red Bull Powertrains’ independence, while Ford contributes engineering expertise as well as electrification technology.

Ford engineers are embedded within Red Bull’s Milton Keynes facility, working closely in R&D and testing.

The partnership is secured through at least 2030, with Ford able to exit, leaving Red Bull with full ownership of the technology.

Why is Ford returning to F1?

Ford’s return to F1 is mainly the result of its focus on electrification and sustainability in motor sport.

Despite having a combustion engine at their heart, Formula 1 cars’ hybrid units enable manufacturers to promote their electric credentials.

From 2026, the series’ new power unit regulations will place a much greater emphasis on electrification, with the electric motor producing almost as much power as the internal combustion engine and the use of 100% sustainable fuels becoming mandatory.

That aligns closely with Ford’s broader road-car strategy, which is increasingly centred on EVs and hybrid technologies.

Beyond the technological fit, Formula 1 offers Ford a global marketing platform that few other series can match. With a growing audience in the United States and a renewed focus on sustainability, the championship gives Ford a high-profile way to showcase its engineering capabilities and reinforce its relevance in a rapidly evolving automotive world.

The marketing opportunity, as well as the chance of refining the technology in F1 is behind the move, according to Bill Ford.

“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motor sport story that began when my great- grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” he said.

“Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”

Will the engines be branded as Ford?

The engines used by Red Bull and Racing Bulls from 2026 will carry the Ford Motor Company name. The partnership with Red Bull gives Ford branding rights, meaning the engines will officially be entered under the “Red Bull Ford Powertrains” banner.

This arrangement mirrors how some previous F1 engine partnerships have worked – where one company leads the engineering effort, while a major manufacturer provides technical input and receives naming rights.

The Ford name will appear on the entry list, in team branding, and likely on the cars themselves.

Could Ford supply engines to other F1 teams in the future?

As things stand, Ford’s F1 engines will be used exclusively by Red Bull and Racing Bulls when the new regulations come into force in 2026.

But in theory, there’s nothing to stop Ford and Red Bull Powertrains from supplying other teams further down the line.

As a registered power unit manufacturer with the FIA, they will be entitled – and potentially obligated – to make their engines available if the championship’s engine allocation rules require it.

At the moment, there’s no sign of Red Bull actively pursuing customer engine deals.

The entire programme has been built around ensuring the team’s independence after Honda’s split, and keeping everything in-house is a key part of that strategy.

However, if the Red Bull-Ford unit proves both competitive and reliable, supplying a second customer team would bring clear benefits. It would provide more data, help amortise the enormous cost of engine development, and potentially increase Ford’s brand visibility across the grid.