Ford is set to make a Comeback in F1

From 2026 onwards, Ford will co-develop power units for Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri. Ford is set to return to Formula One following a 20-year absence, with the announcement made at the introduction of Red Bull Racing's new 2023 F1 car. When F1's new engine regulations take effect in 2026, the American giant will join forces with Red Bull.

Ford will assist Red Bull in developing an F1 Engine

Ford will not field its factory team. Instead, the company has partnered with Red Bull Powertrains to develop power units for Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri from 2026 to at least 2030. Red Bull is working with Honda on F1 engines, but that partnership will terminate to make space for the Ford contract.

Red Bull Racing has previously discussed a partnership with Porsche. But the conversations broke through, with Porsche claiming, "The concept was always that cooperation would be built on an equal footing, which would involve not only an engine partnership but also the team. This was not possible."

Ford claims it will assist Red Bull in the development of combustion engines as well as other areas such as battery cells, electric motor technology, power unit control software, and analytics.

F1 history of Ford

Ford is still the third-most successful engine manufacturer in Formula One history. Their involvement with the championship dates back to the 1960s. From 1967 until 1985, various incarnations of its Double Four Valve (DFV) engine, developed in collaboration with Cosworth, won 155 races. Their most recent F1 appearance was with Jaguar from 2000 through 2004, with Ford badges on the Cosworth engines.

Why is Ford returning to Formula One?

The complicated MGU-H system (gathering energy from exhaust gases) will be removed under the new engine rules, which have also encouraged Audi to enter F1. Instead, the MGU-K (recaptures energy during braking) will generate 350kW, which is more than three times the current electrical power generated by the MGU-H and MGU-K combined. Furthermore, the 1.6-liter turbo engine will run on completely sustainable fuel.

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