Ford no longer Red Bull ‘sponsor only’, now adding cutting edge manufacturing techniques

For Formula One fans who predate the Netflix ‘Drive to Survive” series, the start of the 2026 season will be a throw back to pre-seasons of yesteryear as the approved testing programme will be expanded over the current three days allowed.

Prior to the introduction of the budget cap F1 fans could book themselves a sojourn on the Iberian peninsula for three or four days testing at the Circuit de Jerez where the teams would perform what they described as a shakedown.

Here the cars were put through their paces, even pushed to fail in an attempt to understand the fundamentals of the new car designs and construction. This test was followed by two four days tests in Barcelona, which is one of the best all round tests of the aerodynamics of an F1 car. A car that goes well in Barcelona is said to go well pretty much everywhere.

 

 

 

F1 pre-season testing revolution

Over the past decade, pre-season testing has been repeatedly cut and now it stands at just three days on track trying out the new F1 cars in Bahrain. Yet come the biggest rule changes in F1 history in 2026 where both power units and chassis will all be build under a completely new set of regulations, the FIA has decided to expand the opportunity for on track pre-season testing.

Whilst the exact dates and venues are yet to be confirmed, with bio-fuel and significantly different hybrid power units coming on stream, the FIA has indicated there will be nine days of testing in 2026, across three sets of three days.

With new aerodynamic and power unit regulations being introduced for 2026, which include the use of 100% sustainable fuels and a greater focus on electrical power, teams will be given significantly more days of pre-season testing.

Of course Cadillac will be joining the grid for the first time in 12 months time, powered initially by Ferrari, before some vague promise to develop their own hybrid power unit “by 2030.” Audi will debut their power unit for the first tine too along with Red Bull Racing who have taken the bold step to become a power train manufacturer.

“DIVORCE!” – Wolff surprised at Hamilton rhetoric

 

 

 

Red Bull forge their own powertrain path

The Red Bull/Honda relationships has proven to be successful following then Japanese manufacturers disastrous debut with the V6 hybrid in conjunction with the McLaren team. Four driver titles and two constructors’ champion ship since 2021 have vindicated Honda’s decision to remain in Formula One.

Yet Honda’s main board executives had initially indicated they would not be taking part in developing a new power unit for 2026, which in turn forced Red Bull’s hand to set up their own power train division. Team boss Christian Horner was irritated when a year later Honda changed their collective corporate minds, deciding in fact they would remain in F1 for 2026 and beyond.

Speaking to Sky F1 in 2023 about the Red Bull powertrains division decision he said: “Would we have made the same decision knowing what Honda’s decision is today? Absolutely not. But we’ve made it and we’re committed to it. As the more we’ve got involved, the more benefit that we see to the group long-term.”

With the clock now ticking the Red Bull power unit will roar into life in front of the fans for the first time in just over 52 weeks time, but since the announcement from US auto manufacturing giant Ford of their partnership with Red Bull Racing, the iconic blue oval badge will be return to F1 for the first time in over twenty years.

New F1 Red Bull car breaks cover

 

 

 

“Monumental moment” when RB power train roar to life

Whilst Red Bull Racing will be focused on regaining their constructors’ title in 2025, the biggest challenge of the innovative Milton Keynes based team is yet ahead, something recognised by Christian Horner when speaking at this weeks Ford performance event in the USA.

“We’re under no illusions that we’ve got great mountains to climb, we’ve got 48 weeks of flat-out development and durability testing to get the engine into as competitive a position as we can to start racing in 2026”.

Ferrari and Mercedes are established F1 engine builders with more than a hundred years history between them proving both works and customer teams alike. So the competition is fierce.

“What we don’t know is what our competitors are doing. But this time next year, cars with Red Bull Ford powertrains are going to be pulling into the pit lanes in Barcelona for the first time, which is going to be a monumental moment.”

“To be bringing it back to Formula 1 next year, to see the blue oval on the side of our cars, is going to be very exciting,” he says. “It’s going to be great for Ford, it’s great for Red Bull,” concluded the Red Bull boss.

Newey opens up about leaving Red Bull

 

 

 

Ford now integral to RBR F1 production

Initial reports suggested that Ford would be mainly a financial sponsor who would collaborate on the electrical component of the new power units only. Yet as the relationship has been developed, the partners have developed a much deeper collaboration. Red Bull will leverage Ford’s cutting edge 3D printing technologies which will add precision and speed to the  manufacturing of crucial components. 

In response to Horners update in the US, Ford Performance Motorsports Powertrain Manager Christian Hertrich revealed just how integral this technology has become. “It’s not things like nuts and bolts and easy stuff,” Hertrich explained. “These are complex metal and polymer parts that get tested to extremes so they can withstand races that average 200 miles an hour.”

The scale of the Ford increased involvement is staggering as a plethora of their divisions have been called upon to provide input. “We’re pulling in all of these Ford teams with all of these areas of expertise to help in the program. It’s not just the motorsport group working on this. It’s amazing to see how many different areas of the company have already been involved,” concluded Hertrich.

Ferrari modify Hamilton’s car for next test

 

 

 

Ford third in all time F1 engine wins

Ford remain third in the all time list of wins for F1 engine manufacturers with 176 victories to their name. Ferrari top the charts with 249 and Mercedes are behind them having claimed the chequered flag on 222 occasions. Renault who will cease F1 power unit production next year currently have 169 wins to their name, whilst Honda are fifth having won 89 F1 races under their own badge, with another 30 as Honda-RBPT.

Whilst the new V6 hybrids are something of a development of the current units, the electrical power will br trebled and the introduction of 100% bio fuels will challenge the manufacturers like never before. There is no way to know the eventual pecking order which will emerge, given the FIA have levelled the playing field amongst the competitors by restricting the spend on R&D and the amount of bench time testing each are allowed.

Yet the return of Ford will be eagerly anticipated as they attempt to overturn the dominance of Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda, all of whom have successful V6 hybrids running at present.

Modifications to Melbourne circuit following Russell huge crash

 

 

 

FIA late change of mind infuriates Red Bull

The FIA under Mohammed Ben Sulayem who was elected president in December 2021 has been front and centre each year across a range of Formula One topics. This was in direct contrast to the hands off approach of his predecessor Jean Todt, who in fact left the organisations finances in something of a mess.

Whilst Ben Sulayem has turned around the FIA’s finances a number of the other hands on initiatives he has instigated have irritated pretty much the entire paddock in one way or another. The drivers’ learned last week, the punishment for swearing has been escalated this year, with fines beginning at €40,000 then doubling for the second strike followed by a one. Month race ban and a €120,000 for a third offence.

Given the drivers are enjoying the end of their winter sojourns and will first be together as a collective on Feb 18th, for the first ever F1 launch event of the ten cars competing this year, to date they have made no reposes to the draconian new regulations…. READ MORE