Who uses the Ford engine in F1?
Currently, no team uses a Ford engine in Formula 1. Ford has announced plans to return as a powertrain supplier in 2026, collaborating with Red Bull Powertrains to provide a modern hybrid unit.
Ford’s revival in F1 marks a renewed push by the American automaker into the sport, after a storied past that once defined a generation of racing engines. This article explains the present situation, recalls Ford’s historical footprint in F1, and outlines what the 2026 plan could mean for teams, rivals, and fans.
Current status in Formula 1
Before outlining the current landscape, it helps to note the state of play: there are no Ford-powered cars on the grid today. The formation of Ford’s 2026 powertrain program centers on a collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT), aimed at supplying a modern F1 power unit to its customer teams.
- As of 2025, no F1 team uses a Ford power unit on the race track.
- Ford has publicly stated plans to return to Formula 1 as a powertrain supplier starting in 2026, working with Red Bull Powertrains to develop and supply the hybrid power unit.
- The intended arrangement envisions RBPT supplying Ford’s power unit to Red Bull Racing and its RBPT-affiliated customers from 2026 onward, in line with Formula 1’s technical and regulatory framework.
The exact customer lineup and the technical details of the 2026 power unit are subject to regulatory approval, commercial negotiations, and development milestones. Ford’s entry is framed as a strategic long-term commitment rather than a one-off engine deal.
Ford's historical involvement in Formula 1
To understand the question’s broader context, it helps to look back at Ford’s legacy in F1, which centers on the famous Cosworth DFV engine and its impact on the sport’s competitive balance.
- The Ford-Cosworth DFV engine dominated Formula 1 from 1967 through the early 1980s, powering a large majority of the grid and delivering numerous championships.
- Teams that benefited most from the DFV included Lotus, McLaren, Brabham, and Williams, among others, helping to define an era of intense competition and thrilling Grand Prix racing.
- Beyond the DFV’s heyday, Ford’s involvement in F1 continued through Cosworth’s engineering programs, but Ford as a consumer-branded factory engine supplier stepped back from active F1 engine supply until the 2026 plan.
That historical footprint remains a touchstone for fans and teams, illustrating why Ford’s return is watched closely by rivals and stakeholders across the sport.
What Ford's 2026 return could mean
Ford’s re-entry is poised to influence multiple facets of Formula 1. A dedicated powertrain supplier changes the competitive calculus for teams, regulators, and sponsors, potentially sharpening the focus on reliability, efficiency, and cost management under the sport’s evolving technical rules.
Several implications are likely to unfold. First, the relationship between RBPT and its customer teams will determine how quickly Ford-powered cars can compete at the front, including the integration of hybrid systems and drivetrain packaging within the current aerodynamic and chassis constraints.
Second, Ford’s presence may spur new branding and marketing narratives around American engineering and the globalization of F1, with sponsor attention and factory commitment shaping long-term team strategies.
Finally, the move could influence the broader ecosystem of powertrain suppliers, the balance of technical partnerships, and how teams plan budgets for the sport’s next generation of engines and regulations.
Summary
At present, no Formula 1 team runs a Ford engine. Ford has announced a 2026 return as a powertrain supplier in collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains, signaling a potential shift in the sport’s engine landscape. Historically, Ford’s Cosworth DFV powered a generation of champions and helped define F1’s golden era, a legacy Ford seeks to recapture with a modern, hybrid power unit. The 2026 program will shape who races Ford-powered cars, how teams compete, and how fans experience the sport in the coming years.
