Ford announces return to Formula 1 with Oracle Red Bull Racing, Scuderia AlphaTauri from 2026

Ford announced that it is returning to Formula 1 as a power unit (PU) supplier for both Oracle Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Scuderia AlphaTauri, from the 2026 season to at least 2030.

The Blue Oval brand shocked motorsports fans when Ford President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jim Farley, made his way to the stage (riding a Ford Mustang Mach-E in Red Bull livery) during the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 reveal.

“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. F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers,” Farley said.

To note, Oracle Red Bull Racing was reported to have had back-and-forth talks with Honda and Porsche. That said, Ford’s announcement — at least for most motorsport fans — was unexpected.

According to the Dearborn-based brand, Ford and Red Bull Powertrains will work to develop the PU that will be part of the new technical regulations, including a 350-kilowatt electric motor and a new combustion engine able to accept fully sustainable fuels, ready for the 2026 season.

Additionally, Ford will provide technical expertise in all areas where it can add value to the front-running World Championship team. Areas to be explored together are in the combustion engine development and key developments like battery cell and electric motor technology, PU control software, and analytics.

“It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership. As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition. They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations. From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself. For us as Red Bull Powertrains to open the next chapter of that dynasty, as Red Bull Ford, is tremendously exciting. 2026 is still a while away but for us, the work already starts as we look to a new future and a continued evolution of Oracle Red Bull Racing,” commented Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner.

In 2026, Ford will be the only manufacturer to be competing in racing disciplines from grassroots motorsports to Formula 1 comprising WEC and IMSA including Le Mans 24 Hours with Mustang GT3, WRC with the M-Sport Ford Puma Hybrid Rally1, Baja 1000 with Ranger Raptor and Bronco, and NASCAR, NHRA, and Supercars with Mustang.

“We are entering an exciting new age for Ford Performance. We will be competing to win in F1, the pinnacle of motorsport, with Red Bull Racing. You will see the world’s most popular sports coupe, the Mustang, race from the grassroots to Australian Supercars to NASCAR to Le Mans. And will build our off-road leadership in the World Rally Championship, King of Hammers and to the Baja 1000, and more. All the while, we’ll continue to excite the world with cool demonstrators like SuperVan 4 and Mustang Mach-E 1400,” stated Farley.

Photos from Ford

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