Is Ford replacing Honda for Red Bull?
No, Ford is not replacing Honda as the engine supplier for the Red Bull Formula 1 team. Red Bull has announced a new partnership with Ford starting in 2026, but this is an additional partnership and does not replace their existing relationship with Honda.
Explaining the Red Bull-Ford Partnership
In February 2023, Red Bull Racing announced that they will be partnering with Ford Motor Company starting in the 2026 Formula 1 season. This new partnership will see Ford providing technical support and co-developing the power unit that will power Red Bull's cars.
However, this does not mean that Ford is replacing Honda as Red Bull's engine supplier. Red Bull will continue to use Honda-supplied power units until the end of the 2025 season, after which the new Ford partnership will take effect.
Red Bull's Relationship with Honda
Red Bull has had a successful partnership with Honda since 2019, when the Japanese manufacturer began supplying engines to the team. This partnership has resulted in multiple race wins and championships for Red Bull, including the 2021 and 2022 Drivers' and Constructors' titles.
The decision to add Ford as a partner is seen as a strategic move by Red Bull to further strengthen their competitiveness in the sport, especially with the upcoming changes to the F1 power unit regulations in 2026.
Ford's Return to Formula 1
The Ford-Red Bull partnership also marks the return of the American automaker to Formula 1 after an absence of over 20 years. Ford last competed in the sport as an engine supplier in 2004, and this new partnership will see them re-engage with the sport at a time of significant technical and regulatory changes.
The combination of Red Bull's proven success and Ford's technical expertise is expected to create a formidable partnership that will challenge the current dominance of Mercedes and Ferrari in the sport.
What engine will Red Bull use after Honda?
Red Bull - Red Bull Powertrains
The end result was for Red Bull to set up an in-house engine division, Red Bull Powertrains, with its own power unit set to debut in 2026. It has since drafted in Ford as a partner for that project.
Why is Red Bull getting rid of Honda?
The beginning of the end of the Red Bull-Honda partnership was 2 October 2020, the day Honda officially announced it would leave Formula 1 after the 2021 season. The company stated it was fully committed to electrification and feared the economic consequences of the global COVID-19 crisis.
Who is making the Red Bull engine in 2026?
Ford
It is the location on the Red Bull Campus in Milton Keynes where Red Bull Powertrains and Ford are working away with hundreds of employees on Red Bull's own engine project for 2026. That year, both the engine and chassis regulations will undergo a major overhaul in F1.
Who is making the Red Bull engine in 2024?
Honda
The Red Bull Racing RB20 is a championship-winning Formula One car designed and constructed by Red Bull Racing and powered by the Honda RBPTH002 power unit to compete in the 2024 Formula One World Championship.
Is Ford returning to F1 in 2026 as a partner of Red Bull?
It paved the way for Red Bull and Ford to agree on a partnership that will start in 2026 when F1's new engine regulations are introduced. The link-up will bring the American automotive giant back to the F1 grid after more than two decades away.
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