Information leaks suggest a return of Ford to F1 with Red Bull
Red Bull could sign a partnership with the generalist car manufacturer Ford for a joint participation in Formula 1 starting in 2026. An announcement is expected tomorrow during the presentation of the new Red Bull F1 live from New York.
There’s no smoke without fire. Red Bull will unveil tomorrow, Friday, February 3rd, their new F1 car, the RB19 (See all the presentation dates) live from New York, United States. If the most observant have connected this presentation on American soil to the fact that the 2023 F1 calendar will include three races in the US (Austin, Las Vegas, Miami), there would ultimately be an additional reason for it.
Ford is committed to a restructuring of its car lineup and aims to increase its international presence. According to rumors leaked by an Italian media outlet, Ford is reportedly on the verge of returning to F1 as a technical partner for Red Bull.
Already partners in WRC
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Indeed, it’s almost already the case in WRC as the Fords are sponsored by Red Bull. Therefore, F1 could see the return of Ford as soon as tomorrow if the livery of the RB19 features more pronounced blue and white colors than usual on the red bull’s livery.
The story indeed seems to be unfolding well. First courted by Porsche for a highly publicized entry into Formula 1, Red Bull, which declined to commit half of its capital with Porsche, could indeed turn to Ford. The Austrian team is now developing its own engine as Honda has officially withdrawn from F1. While the Japanese manufacturer is no longer an official engine supplier, they have announced a partnership for branding in 2023 and the Japanese engine manufacturer is still listed on the FIA’s list of Red Bull’s engine suppliers.
Ford shows a genuine interest.
Ford recently declared that Formula 1 is experiencing strong growth, both in the United States and worldwide. What they have done well is create great races and intense competition. It is still the pinnacle, but they have been able to reach a new audience thanks to initiatives like Drive to Survive, which has generated real interest.
If Ford were to become a partner of Red Bull to develop certain parts of the engine or even the entire power unit, this should not happen until 2023, as Honda’s strong presence in the design of the RB19 is still prominent.
