Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Everything we know about Ford’s return to Formula 1 as Red Bull’s engine partner

The American automaker will be in charge of developing Red Bull’s next-gen hybrid power unit for the 2026 season

Joel Patel
By

It’s been nearly two decades since Ford last raced in Formula 1. But with Drive to Survive and Formula 1 set to have three races in the United States for the 2023 schedule, the American brand thinks now is a good time as any to announce its return to the most prestigious racing series in the world. Earlier this month, Ford officially announced that it would partner with Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to provide both teams with hybrid power units. Ford will also be helping the teams with technical and strategic support starting for the 2026 season and running until “at least” 2030.

While we won’t see anything concrete about the partnership between Ford and Red Bull Racing anytime soon, the partnership will officially begin in 2023. At the moment, we know that Ford will be working with Red Bull Powertrains to help develop a 350-kW hybrid power unit that will become a part of the new technical regulations for the 2026 F1 season. Ford will also be helping Red Bull Powertrains with its combustion engine, which will be required to run on sustainable fuels.

Our Time | #FordReturns | Ford Performance

“Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company — increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley. “F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers.”

Recommended Videos

As a Formula 1 fan, it’s exciting to see an American automaker return to the sport. There was a lot of hoopla about General Motors and Andretti Global attempting to get an F1 bid with Cadillac, but existing teams have reportedly voiced a lot of pushback to a new team joining the F1 grid. It seems like Ford found an easier route to return to the world of Formula 1 at a great time with increased interest from American racing fans. Either way, Ford returns to Formula 1.

The partnership is also a good way for Ford to develop and engineer future electric powertrains and components for its road vehicles. The brand is investing $50 billion into electrification and recently split the company into two major divisions – Ford Blue for its internal combustion engine vehicles and Ford Model e for its EVs.  Motorsports have always been a way for automakers to develop and test automotive components for future road-going vehicles. With Ford looking to come out with more EVs and focus on electrified vehicles, it makes plenty of sense for the brand to get involved with F1 as the racing series looks to expand on its hybrid race cars.

Ford CEO Jim Farley speaking at Oracle Red Bull Racing 2023 F1 car reveal in New York City.
Oracle Red Bull Racing

“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership,” said Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO. “As an independent engine manufacturer, to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford put us in a good stead against the competition.”

Specifics on the partnership are sure to come out closer to the 2026 season. Plus, the announcement was made at the same time Red Bull showcased their new livery for the 2023 season, which totally doesn’t look like last year’s livery in any way, in New York City. We’re sure it’s a hard topic to discuss when “HONDA” is plastered on the back of the 2023 car. But, as far as Formula 1 news for American racing fans, seeing Ford in F1 is certainly exciting.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Joel Patel
Joel Patel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joel Patel is a Northern Virginia native that became enamored with cars at a young age when he was tasked with holding the…
Acura MDX Type S: 4 things we love about it (and 3 things we hate)
Somehow, Acura has made a three-row SUV that’s enjoyable to drive without going overboard
2022 Acura MDX Type S front end angle from the passenger's side in a hay field with blue skies in the back.

There’s no shortage of three-row midsize SUVs on the market. From luxury options to high-performance choices with specs that match some sports car, the world of SUVs is vast. That is, unless you’re looking for a reasonably priced midsize SUV with realistic performance from a Japanese brand. These are harder to find than a halfway decent coffee shop that’s not Starbucks these days. That’s where the 2022 Acura MDX Type S comes into its own.
Let’s say you’re an enthusiast and you want a midsize SUV that’s enjoyable to drive because you have kids, a large family, or a set of dogs, and a sports car just isn’t in the cards. The MDX Type S is practically built with you in mind. Life happens. You can’t help that. But it doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice driver enjoyment or loads of money going with something from Germany to get an AMG, M, or S badge.
The 2022 MDX Type S has a lot going for it, but it also has a few things that might give you a reason to look elsewhere. Here's our Acura MDX Type S review to explain a few things we love about the vehicle and a few things we hate.

What we love about the Acura MDX Type S

Read more
Lamborghini’s upcoming supercar will have a 1,001-hp plug-in hybrid V12 powertrain
Lamborghini news: Here’s a sneak peek at what engine will replace the outgoing naturally aspirated V12
Lamborghini LB744 PHEV Powertrain from overhead in the engine bay of a chassis.

Lamborghini is known for making world-class naturally aspirated engines. From the Huracan’s V10 to the Aventador’s V12, soulful engines are Lamborghini’s thing. Unfortunately, Lamborghini has discontinued the Aventador and its mighty V12 engine. While we don’t know what’s in store for the Aventador’s replacement, Lamborghini has given the world a look into its upcoming powertrain, which will include a plug-in hybrid component with three electric motors.
A PHEV from Lamborghini? It certainly sounds like the end times. But if you think Lamborghini is making something akin to the Toyota Prius Prime, that’s not what’s happening here. At the heart of the plug-in hybrid powertrain is a 6.5-liter V12 engine. The new L545 motor is a major upgrade of the Aventador’s 6.5-liter V12. The new engine weighs 37 pounds less, has more power, has a higher redline, and features a raised compression ratio of 12.6:1.

Getting into actual numbers, the new 6.5-liter V12 engine is good for 814 horsepower on its own. That’s a large upgrade over the Aventador, which made up to 769 horsepower in its most potent configurations. While peak horsepower comes at 9,250 rpm, the engine hits its redline at 9,500 rpm. If there’s one figure that hasn’t grown a lot, it’s torque. The new V12 is rated at 535 pound-feet, which is only 4 pound-feet more than the old 12-cylinder motor.
In addition to giving the engine a major overhaul, Lamborghini has also repositioned the way the gearbox and engine are packaged together. Unlike the Aventador, which had a single-clutch transmission that was positioned in front of the engine, Lamborghini has turned the new V12 180 degrees. Additionally, power is being routed through a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that Lamborghini designed that will sit behind the engine.
So far, these would be massive changes on their own, but the engine is getting a large helping hand from a plug-in hybrid component. Lamborghini will assist the V12 engine with three electric motors. Two axial-flux motors are located at the front – one on each wheel – and a third electric motor at the back that’s integrated into the transmission. The front electric motors allow for torque vectoring, while the rear electric motor can act as a starter motor, generator, or an extra source of power. On their own, each motor is capable of producing 148 horsepower – roughly the same amount of power as a compact car. Combined, Lamborghini claims the V12 engine and the electric motors are good for 1,001 horsepower.

Read more
You can buy Alfa Romeo’s 2023 F1 show car (but you can’t drive it)
The lucky winner won’t be able to drive the Alfa Romeo race car, but it will make for a striking centerpiece
2023 Alfa Romeo F1 C43 show car from front overhead shot in a studio with studio lighting.

Like most race cars, F1 cars are built with lap times in mind. Engineers and designers spend a painstaking amount of attention on every detail in the hopes of cutting 0.01 seconds off of a lap time. While the end result is a race car that puts function over form, there’s no denying that F1 cars are beautiful. Despite the bulky, but entirely necessary halo and the wheel covers that look like fancy mudflaps, modern F1 cars are striking.
If you caught the reveal of the 2023 C43, which is Alfa Romeo’s entry for the 2023 season of Formula 1, and liked the design, we have some good news. The actual car that was used for the reveal is up for auction on F1 Authentics and includes some extra goodies.

Previous

Read more