Who will Ford make engines for in F1?
Ford will supply power units to Red Bull Powertrains for the 2026 Formula 1 season, powering Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri. This marks Ford’s return to F1 after a long absence.
The customer and teams involved
Scope and timeline
Ford’s F1 engine program is designed to supply power units to Red Bull Powertrains, which runs Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri. The deal targets the 2026 season under F1’s upcoming engine regulations, with development and production overseen in partnership with Red Bull Powertrains.
- Customer organization: Red Bull Powertrains, Red Bull’s in-house entity that develops and supplies F1 power units to its teams.
- Teams to be powered: Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri (AlphaTauri is Red Bull’s sister team).
- Season when the engines begin: 2026 and continuing thereafter, subject to FIA approval and contract terms.
- Power unit configuration: a contemporary 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 hybrid power unit developed with Ford technology and Red Bull Powertrains inputs.
- Production and branding: engines manufactured under Ford’s umbrella in collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains, contingent on regulatory approval.
In short, Ford’s forthcoming F1 engines are slated for Red Bull Powertrains’ customer teams—Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri—from the 2026 season, aligned with the sport’s new standard.
Implications for the sport and industry
The move by Ford is poised to influence competition, technology development, and the broader engineering ecosystem as F1 moves toward its new engine rules in 2026.
- Competitive landscape: A major American manufacturer entering as a formal power unit supplier adds a new dynamic to engine diversity on the grid.
- Technology and efficiency: Ford’s investment is expected to advance hybrid performance and cost-control measures central to 2026 regulations.
- Strategic partnerships: Red Bull Powertrains would anchor the collaboration, potentially shaping broader cross-company synergies in performance engineering.
- Regulatory alignment: The project must meet FIA homologation standards and F1’s cost-cap framework.
These factors together suggest Ford’s return could shift engineering priorities and competitive strategies across the paddock as the sport implements the new regulatory era.
Summary
Ford has signaled a comeback to Formula 1 by agreeing to supply power units to Red Bull Powertrains for Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri starting with the 2026 season. The initiative coincides with a shift to new engine regulations designed to curb costs and improve sustainability, positioning Ford at the center of F1’s next era.
Who makes Red Bull F1 engines in 2025?
Honda
Honda continued to support the Red Bull-owned teams in 2022 and will do so until the end of 2025. Honda assembles the power units and provides trackside and race operation support.
Why is Red Bull switching to Ford engines?
Red Bull is partnering with Ford for the 2026 F1 season to gain a technical edge in developing the new power units, benefiting from Ford's expertise in areas like battery technology, electric motors, and software. This strategic partnership allows Red Bull Powertrains to access the resources and experience of a major manufacturer, which is crucial for competing with established engine suppliers, while still maintaining control of its chassis development.
- Technical expertise: Ford brings extensive experience in developing both combustion engines and hybrid systems, which is vital for the new 2026 regulations that emphasize electrification and sustainable fuels.
- Access to resources: The partnership provides Red Bull with access to Ford's technical resources, including their engineering knowledge in battery cell technology, electric motor development, and power unit control software.
- Strategic advantage: By partnering with Ford, Red Bull avoids the technical limitations of being an independent manufacturer and can better compete with the experience and resources of rival teams like Mercedes and Ferrari.
- Dual benefit: The collaboration is a strategic partnership, not just a branding exercise, which gives Red Bull access to a range of R&D, while Ford gets a cost-effective platform to innovate and engage with a new customer base.
- Market penetration: The partnership also helps Ford gain more penetration in the U.S. market, where the Red Bull F1 team is very popular.
Who is Ford partnering with in F1?
Red Bull
We're incredibly excited to begin this new chapter, driven by the same determination and excellence that defines both Ford and Red Bull." Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, added: "Since we announced our return to F1 with Red Bull, the Ford team have been working night and day to get ready for 2026.
Which F1 teams will 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.
