Ford returns to Formula 1, teams up with Red Bull for 2026 season

Not only will Formula One (F1) see a new set of regulations by 2026 but also new teams. Ford is the latest to announce its entry into the racing series by teaming up with Oracle Red Bull Racing (RBR).

Ford is returning to F1

It was back in December 2022 when Ford was reportedly looking to return to F1 with the defending constructors’ champion. Now that the partnership is official, we get to know exciting details including the Blue Oval brand being the team’s engine supplier from 2026 to at least 2030.

“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launched our company,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford.

Ford is no stranger to the sport as it holds 10 constructors’ championships and 13 drivers’ championships to its name as an engine manufacturer. One of the most renowned drivers to run a Ford engine to victory was Michael Schumacher when he won his first F1 World Championship in 1994.

Ford CEO Jim Farley with the Red Bull crew

For the new chapter soon to unfold, the American automaker will be supplying next-gen hybrid power units to RBR and its junior team, Scuderia AlphaTauri, which will conform to F1’s new 2026 technical regulations. Starting in 2026, teams will use more sustainable and environmentally friendlier engines.

Part of the collaboration is the development of a 350 kW electric motor and a new combustion engine capable of running fully sustainable fuels. Ford is said to be an ideal partner with its global electric vehicle (EV) development program, producing all-electric models such as the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning.

“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” said RBR Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner. “As an independent engine manufacturer, to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition.”

Red Bull Ford is coming in 2026

Apart from Ford, Audi is another automaker that will join the F1 grid as an engine supplier in 2026. Audi is officially entering F1 with the Sauber Group, the team currently racing as Alfa Romeo.

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