Red Bull already has its future guaranteed until 2030. A future in which, more than two decades later, the Ford name returns to Formula 1. The energy drink brand and one of the most mythical names in motorsport will join forces in 2026 in an agreement that will last for five seasons.
It will be when a new era in F1 begins. One in which after many problems with the power units, which have suffered Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and above all Honda, only the Japanese became part of the ‘Great Circus’ party. They were proclaimed world champions, but they spent three years with McLaren in which his prestige could not fall lower.
Because the reliability and power failures were notorious. Alonso suffered them, with the mythical phrase of the “GP2 Engine” surely still present in the memory of Honda fans. And they suffered it themselves as a mark when they saw how Senna’s golden age seemed impossible to reach again.
They did, but in 2021 and 2022 when first Max Verstappen and then both the Dutchman and the Red Bull team were proclaimed Formula 1 world champions. Now, in 2026, everything can change.
This will be the new F1
Because to the already classic Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault Audi has joined. Also Honda, which It is not known how he will be in F1. Cadillac, perhaps, with Andretti if he finally enters as his own team or with, for example, Haas. And then Ford.
The Americans have taken advantage of the pull of F1 in their country. Because from one race, in Austin, it will go to three in 2023. Miami joined last year, and now comes Las Vegas. Increasingly popular is F1 in the US, and Ford wanted his share.
Ford, thanks to Porsche
They surely studied multiple options to enter. If as a pure motorist, if as a manufacturer… But none of the possibilities they liked. None convinced them. And so it would have possibly remained not for Porsche.
They were close to their agreement with Red Bull, but the Austrians they wanted full control and Porsche wanted to decide on certain issues. They said ‘no’, and it all finally came to fruition with Ford.
Those of the energy drinks, unofficially allies with Honda helping since last year with what they have called ‘Red Bull PowerTrains’, they were looking for a partner but not at any price. They knew about their product, one that equates to a winning car, a winning team, a ready-made infrastructure, and a way of working that gets results.
The keys to the agreement
There came Ford. It was an open secret that the partnership with Red Bull was underway. Nobody said ‘yes’, but neither did ‘no’, and on Friday, February 3, it was confirmed at the presentation event of what will end up being the RB19 in New York.
That’s where it became official. The so-called Red Bull Honda, until 2022, will become Red Bull Ford from 2026 with, in addition, the name ‘PowerTrains’ also in the nomenclature. What does that mean? Will Ford just put his name on the chassis? Or will it bring something to the current F1 world champion?
What will the collaboration be like?
The answer to the first part of the question is no. To the second, it is yes. The power unit will be manufactured in Milton Keynes, in a division that has already in charge of working with Honda engines and that he will be one hundred percent responsible for the future of the ‘interior’ of Red Bull.
But Ford, apart from displaying its logo on the car’s engine cover, will be very involved in the hybrid part of the engine, where they already have extensive knowledge.
It will be a collaboration in this sense for both sides, because with the rise of F1 in the US, and in the rest of the world, they hope to be able to get revenue from the association at a commercial level… and also as to technology for its electric and hybrid range.
Red Bull Ford; AlphaTauri Ford
Until 2030 the agreement between Red Bull and Ford will arrive. One that not only involves the brand of energy drinks but also AlphaTauri. The two Hondas will become the two Fords, and it remains to be seen what happens to the Japanese who are officially registered as motorcyclists in 2026…
