Are there any Ford engines in F1?
Intentional short answer: There are no Ford-branded engines currently powering F1 cars, but Ford has announced a plan to supply power units starting in 2026 through a partnership with Red Bull Powertrains.
To understand what this means, it helps to review the current landscape of F1 engine suppliers, Ford’s historical involvement, and what the 2026 plan entails. Ford’s return would mark a notable shift in the sport’s powertrain picture, coming after years of Honda/Red Bull collaboration and other manufacturers’ dominance on the grid.
Current status on the F1 grid
A snapshot of the engine situation in the ongoing seasons shows which brands are active today and where Ford fits into the picture.
- The grid currently does not run any Ford-branded power units in 2024–2025.
- The four current power-unit manufacturers are Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, Renault (Alpine), and Honda (via Red Bull Powertrains’ support arrangement).
- Honda’s power units are used by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri (through Red Bull Powertrains), with technical support continuing under the RBPT umbrella through the mid-2020s.
In short, while Ford is not supplying engines right now, the sport’s engine map remains concentrated among the established manufacturers, with Honda/Red Bull Powertrains currently playing a central role for the Red Bull stable.
Ford’s planned return to F1 in 2026
Details have emerged about Ford’s intended re-entry into F1 as an engine supplier, a development that would reintroduce a major American manufacturer to the power unit arena.
- Ford announced a technical collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains to develop and supply a next‑generation F1 power unit from the 2026 season onward.
- The engines are slated to be used by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, marking Ford’s return to supplying a F1 power unit to teams.
- Development and production are planned to take place in the United Kingdom, with Ford branding attached to the power unit as part of the partnership.
- The project represents Ford’s broader push to re-enter high-profile global motorsport with advanced, hybrid powertrain technology and to diversify its engineering footprint beyond road cars.
- Current timelines position the new Ford power units to compete starting with the 2026 F1 season, with 2024–2025 serving as a transition period in which Red Bull Powertrains continues to operate under the existing Honda RBPT setup.
The Ford‑Red Bull Powertrains collaboration signals a potential reshaping of who builds and supplies F1 engines, returning Ford to the competition after more than two decades since its last factory involvement in the sport.
Ford’s historical footprint in Formula 1
Ford’s past in F1 is a key backdrop to the current news. In the 1960s–1980s, Ford’s backing and technology powered one of the sport’s greatest eras through the Cosworth DFV, a legendary engine conceived in partnership with Cosworth that helped countless independent teams win races and championships. This period is often cited as the DFV era, where Ford’s engineering influence and Cosworth’s design created a template for competitive, customer engines that reshaped the sport.
Later, Ford's direct factory involvement faded, with Jaguar Racing (a Ford-owned operation at the time) competing in the early 2000s before Ford exited F1 as a manufacturer in 2004. Since then, Ford has remained absent as a current engine supplier, though its legacy through Cosworth remains a touchstone in F1 history. The 2026 plan represents Ford’s opportunity to re-enter in a new era of hybrid, highly specialized power units.
Summary
At present, Ford engines are not on the F1 grid, but a formal return is planned for 2026 via a collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains to supply next‑generation power units to Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri. If realized, Ford’s comeback would bring a major automaker back into the sport’s engine landscape, aligning with modern hybrid technology and the sport’s evolving supply chain.
Bottom line: No Ford engines are racing today, but Ford’s 2026 entry plan is a major development to watch. The sport’s engine map could look different in the coming years as the 2026 season approaches.
Do any F1 teams use Ford engines?
Red Bull Ford will provide the power units for both the Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri teams from 2026 to at least 2030.
Why is there no Ford in F1?
Ford is not in F1 because they previously left the sport in 2004, and a return was seen as too expensive and risky. However, Ford is returning to F1 for the 2026 season by partnering with Red Bull Powertrains, and this comeback was motivated by new hybrid engine regulations and the opportunity to develop new technology in collaboration with a top team.
Reasons for the past departure
- Cost and risk: Running a competitive F1 team is incredibly expensive, costing hundreds of millions of dollars per season. Ford concluded that the return on investment wasn't worth the enormous cost and risk.
- Focus on other motorsports: Ford was already heavily involved in other racing series like NASCAR, WEC, and WRC, which were seen as providing sufficient marketing and brand visibility.
- Strategic decision: After the 2004 sale of its Jaguar Racing team, Ford's management decided that a full F1 team was not a strategic priority, and the company would focus its resources elsewhere.
Why Ford is returning now
- New regulations: The new F1 engine regulations starting in 2026, which focus on hybrid systems, sustainable fuels, and increased electrical power, have made the sport more attractive to major car manufacturers like Ford.
- Strategic partnership: Ford is not building its own team from scratch, but rather entering into a partnership with Red Bull Powertrains. This allows them to focus on developing the hybrid power unit for 2026 without the immense cost and risk of running a full team, as explained by Ford Authority and Formula 1.
- Technology and brand: Ford sees this partnership as an opportunity to develop cutting-edge technology in hybrid systems and software, which can be applied to its road cars. The return also aims to revitalize the Ford brand by associating it with a winning team in a globally popular sport.
When did Ford stop making F1 engines?
Ford remains, to this day, the 3rd most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history behind Mercedes and Ferrari despite leaving the sport in 2004 with Jaguar Racing and selling the team to Red Bull Racing.
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Does Ford make good F1 engines?
Like Oracle Red Bull Racing, Ford boasts an impeccable F1 legacy. Like the storied Offenhauser “Offy” engine, the mighty Ford Cosworth DFV occupies a rare place in motorsport history, powering a who's who of F1 drivers to 155 victories from 1967 until 1985.
