Ford and Red Bull 2026 Formula 1 'marriage' planning in full swing

As Formula 1 focuses on the current season, Ford Motorsport Director Mark Rushbrook outlined the progress being made and admitted there is still much to learn from Red Bull as they prepare for the much anticipated partnership that kicks in next year.

The 2026 F1 season will bring sweeping regulation changes, with both chassis and power unit undergoing the biggest overhaul in decades. Engines are at the heart of the transformation, with the balance between combustion and electric power shifting significantly.

From 2026, the electric drive will deliver around half of the system’s output, a substantial increase from today’s ratio. The scale of change has already sparked political gamesmanship. Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur and then-Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner had been especially critical of the new rules.

Horner has since departed, but his concerns about Red Bull’s competitiveness lingered, given the team’s decision to build its own Formula 1 power unit for the first time in partnership with Ford.

Rushbrook was keen to clarify Ford’s role. Initially, the company was expected to focus only on electrification, prompting accusations of mere “badge engineering” when the partnership was announced in early 2023.

Rushbrook explained the thinking behind the entry: “We wanted to learn about electrification: battery cell chemistry, motors, inverters, calibration, control, and how everything interacts with the combustion engine. We wanted to learn about optimising fuel efficiency.”

Since then, Ford has expanded its contribution. “Initially, we weren’t really interested in working on the combustion engine, but now we are, because we obviously still have a lot to learn in this area. We’re primarily helping with the production of parts. So now we’re working on almost the entire car—and also on the operational side,” Rushbrook said.

Ford will return to Formula 1 in 2026 with its iconic blue oval back on the grid. The manufacturer last competed directly through Jaguar between 2000 and 2004, an era that failed to deliver results despite heavy investment. Rushbrook was candid: “The last time we had a works team with Jaguar, we had to learn that we weren’t very good at it. We don’t have a full manufacturer program like that anywhere in the world.”

Despite that, Ford’s legacy in Formula 1 is significant. History shows that the Ford Cosworth DFV engine remains one of the most successful in the sport’s history, powering 155 race wins and 12 Drivers’ Championships between 1967 and 1983. With Red Bull now providing the technical platform, the new partnership aims to revive that heritage in the modern era.