Since current partner Honda’s withdrawal as a manufacturer from F1, Red Bull Racing has been forced to expand its repertoire. Though the existing Honda power unit will continue to be used through till 2025, Red Bull now finds itself at a pivotal moment in its history. Whilst lesser financed teams may simply have sought out a new provider, Red Bull is taking a leap into the unknown with their Powertrains division.
By 2026, when support from Honda will end, Red Bull Powertrains aim to have created their own unit capable of competing with Mercedes and Ferrari, who each also provide their own engines. Even in light of the sheer speed at which the Powertrains plant was built (only 55 weeks), this remains a mammoth task. As such, the team will be entering a new partnership for the 2026 till 2030 circuit with American giant Ford.
Prior to its departure from the sport in 2004, Ford built itself an impressive legacy in F1. They remain one of the most successful manufacturers to date, with their DFV Cosworth engine earning them 10 constructor’s championships between 1968 and 1981. Their essential role within Powertrains will be to assist in development by providing technical expertise in areas including electric motor technology and power unit control systems, whilst the unit itself will be built by Red Bull.
Ford’s understated role as a supportive partner makes them a viable candidate for working with self-sufficient Red Bull. After talks with Porsche were dropped in September over supposed disagreements in shares, team principal Christian Horner commented that the team's independence as a manufacturer was ‘an absolute prerequisite for the future.’
But it’s not only their shining reputation that make the company so attractive. A historic American brand, a partnership with Ford is expected to boost Red Bull’s popularity in the US – an especially strategic move given the three American circuits on the 2023 calendar (more than any other nation). US approval seems to be a top priority for Red Bull moving forward, as their recent unveiling of the RB19 car across the pond in New York would suggest. As popularity ratings rise, the potential for gaining advantageous American sponsors does too.
The first in-house built Ford-Red Bull Powertrains engine is scheduled to be unleashed at the start of the 2026 season. Whether it sees as much success as Red Bull’s recent years will be decided on the grid.
