The Original Partnership Vision

When Red Bull Powertrains and Ford announced their collaboration ahead of Formula One’s sweeping 2026 regulations, the division of labor appeared clearly defined. Ford would concentrate on the electrical side of the hybrid power unit—batteries, inverters, software systems, and calibration—while Red Bull Powertrains would handle the internal combustion engine development.

This arrangement made strategic sense given the 2026 regulations, which mandate a 50-50 power split between electrical energy and the internal combustion engine. The elimination of the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat) and the tripling of electrical power output represented a significant shift in Formula One’s technical landscape, one that would demand expertise Ford could provide.

« The original list was focused on the electrification part of it: the battery cell, the motor, the inverter, the software, and the calibration board, » Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook explained. « That was primarily the list, and that has certainly been delivered. »

The partnership represented Ford’s return to Formula One after decades away from the sport. The Blue Oval’s legendary history in grand prix racing, particularly through the iconic Ford Cosworth DFV engine that powered 155 victories between 1967 and 1985, gave the collaboration historical resonance alongside its technical ambitions.

The Unexpected Expansion

However, as the development program progressed, the boundaries of Ford’s involvement began to expand organically. Close collaboration between Ford and Red Bull Powertrains engineers revealed opportunities for the American manufacturer to contribute beyond its initially defined remit.

This evolution wasn’t driven by deficiencies in Red Bull Powertrains’ capabilities. Rather, it emerged from the natural interaction between two groups of technical experts working closely together on an extraordinarily complex project.

« It wasn’t necessarily that things were lacking, but as you have the technical minds together, and they’re working on certain things, they overhear or get asked questions. What would Ford do in this situation? And that’s where we were able to say, we can actually help, and we have been able to contribute to that part, » Rushbrook explained.

The expanded involvement now includes direct participation in combustion engine design, component manufacturing, and additive manufacturing processes. Ford’s advanced manufacturing facilities in Dearborn, Michigan, have become integral to the day-to-day development of Red Bull’s 2026 power unit.

Daily Operations: Dearborn to Milton Keynes

The depth of Ford’s involvement is perhaps best illustrated by the operational cadence that has developed between Dearborn and Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters. Ford now manufactures components for Red Bull’s combustion engine on a daily basis, with parts shipping across the Atlantic for immediate testing.

« As we were working on the electric part of it, and we saw what was going on with the combustion engine, we saw an opportunity to participate and contribute. A lot of the actual parts that are being made in Dearborn now are on the combustion engine side of the power unit. Those parts are being made daily and shipped daily, » Rushbrook revealed.

This real-time manufacturing and testing cycle represents a significant commitment of resources and demonstrates the integration between the two organizations. Ford’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, including sophisticated 3D printing technology, enable rapid prototyping and iteration—crucial advantages in Formula One’s compressed development timelines.

« We’re literally making parts every day and shipping parts from Dearborn every day that are being tested in the labs in Milton Keynes. Many of those will actually go into production as well, » Rushbrook noted. « It’s testing our people, our processes and our facilities. It’s pushing us to do things we’ve never done before, even in other motorsports or production programmes. »

The Road Car Connection

Ford’s expanded involvement in combustion engine development is directly linked to strategic shifts in its road car portfolio. While many automotive manufacturers have pursued aggressive electrification strategies, Ford has maintained a more balanced approach, continuing to develop internal combustion engines alongside hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

« On our road car cycle plans, we will continue to have ICE, full hybrid, and full electric. So, it became increasingly important for us to be part of the combustion engine development as well, » Rushbrook explained.

« We’re literally making parts every day and shipping parts from Dearborn every day that are being tested in the labs in Milton Keynes. »

This strategic alignment creates valuable technology transfer opportunities between Formula One and Ford’s production vehicles. The extreme efficiency requirements of the 2026 Formula One regulations—with sustainable fuels and stringent energy deployment rules—parallel the challenges facing road car development in an era of tightening emissions standards and fuel economy requirements.

The 2026 power units will run on fully sustainable fuels while delivering performance that matches or exceeds current hybrid systems. The engineering solutions developed to achieve this balance—advanced combustion strategies, sophisticated thermal management, and optimized fuel injection systems—have direct applicability to Ford’s road car engines.

Red Bull’s Engine Manufacturing Challenge

Understanding Ford’s expanded role requires appreciating the magnitude of Red Bull’s undertaking. The team is building its first entirely in-house Formula One power unit from scratch—a task that typically requires decades of accumulated knowledge and hundreds of millions in investment.

Until 2021, Red Bull Racing relied on external suppliers for power units, successively partnering with Ferrari, Renault, and Honda. While this arrangement allowed the team to focus on chassis development—resulting in multiple world championships—it also created vulnerabilities. Supplier decisions could dictate Red Bull’s competitive position regardless of chassis quality.

The decision to develop in-house power units gave Red Bull control over its technical destiny but presented enormous challenges. The team recruited experienced personnel from rival manufacturers, including Ben Hodgkinson from Mercedes to serve as Red Bull Powertrains technical director. However, building institutional knowledge and establishing the complex infrastructure required for power unit development remained formidable obstacles.

The 2026 Technical Landscape

The 2026 regulations represent Formula One’s most significant power unit transformation since the hybrid era began in 2014. The changes fundamentally alter how Formula One cars generate and deploy power, creating both opportunities and risks for all manufacturers.

These regulations create unprecedented challenges. The increased electrical power demands sophisticated battery technology, thermal management, and power electronics—areas where Ford’s expertise proves valuable. The combustion engine must deliver maximum efficiency while running on sustainable fuel—a technical puzzle that benefits from Ford’s expanded involvement.

Development Progress and Targets

According to Rushbrook, the Red Bull Ford power unit development program remains on schedule, with internal targets being met consistently. However, he acknowledges the inherent uncertainty in Formula One’s competitive environment—meeting your own goals means little if rivals have set their bars higher.

« We are to plan, so where we need to be, but it all comes together when it’s actually in the car and on track, » Rushbrook explained. « So that first day of testing is an important date, and an important week. It’s when we get to see how all this hard work in the past three years is going to pay off. »

The development process has followed a methodical pattern: extracting additional power, stabilizing reliability at that power level, then pursuing further power gains. Recently, focus has shifted toward drivability—how the power unit responds to driver inputs and how smoothly it delivers power across the operating range.

Competitive Positioning

The competitive landscape for 2026 remains opaque. Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and soon-to-enter Audi are all developing power units, each bringing different strengths and experience levels. Mercedes is widely believed to have the most advanced program, with team principal Toto Wolff confidently advocating for certain regulation changes—confidence that suggests Mercedes believes it holds an advantage.

Rushbrook acknowledges Red Bull and Ford may face disadvantages in combustion engine development given their relative inexperience compared to established manufacturers. However, he believes any deficit will be marginal and offset by strengths in other areas.

« Because yes, existing engine manufacturers have all those years of experience, but it’s still a bit different again with these rules for 2026. And we’ve got a lot of experienced people that came in from other programs to find it together. So even if we’re a little bit behind with the combustion engine, we don’t think it’s going to be by much, and we’ll make up for it in everything else, » Rushbrook explained.

The Barcelona Test

The first major milestone arrives with winter testing in Barcelona, scheduled for later this month. Although conducted behind closed doors, this test represents the first opportunity to validate three years of development work in real-world conditions.

« There’s always some level of nervousness or anticipation anytime there’s a new car or engine on track, » Rushbrook admitted. The test will reveal not just whether Red Bull and Ford have met their internal targets, but whether those targets were ambitious enough compared to rivals.

The complexity of the 2026 power units makes accurate competitive assessment difficult even with testing data. Manufacturers can run conservative settings to mask true performance, or push aggressively to identify weaknesses. The actual competitive order may not become clear until the first races of the 2026 season.

Long-Term Implications

Ford’s deepening involvement with Red Bull extends beyond the 2026 season. The partnership agreement runs through 2030, with both parties expressing openness to extension depending on Formula One’s future technical direction.

Discussions about post-2030 power unit regulations have already begun. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem initially advocated for naturally aspirated V10 engines before scaling back to V8 engines with electrical components. Ford’s commitment to multiple powertrain types—combustion, hybrid, and electric—gives the company flexibility regarding Formula One’s future technical path.

« The fact that we’re going to have different balances of combustion engines, multiple variants of hybrids and full electric, we are comfortable sitting at the table. As long as we have something that is reasonably relevant to us, we’ll be happy, » Rushbrook stated.

Manufacturing Excellence and Innovation

Ford’s expanded role has driven manufacturing innovation that extends beyond Formula One. The precision requirements, rapid turnaround times, and quality control standards demanded by the project have elevated Ford’s capabilities across its advanced manufacturing operations.

« But when I talk about the combustion engine, there’s the design of it, the actual manufacturing of the components, the physical parts, additive manufacturing, and so on. It has really pushed us to a much higher level than where we’ve been during earlier programs. In terms of the people, the quality control, the dimensional control, it has really pushed us to another level, » Rushbrook explained.

The daily manufacturing and shipping cycle between Dearborn and Milton Keynes exemplifies this elevated capability. Components move from computer-aided design to physical parts to testing within compressed timeframes that would have been impossible with conventional manufacturing approaches.

Conclusion

Ford’s expanded involvement in Red Bull’s 2026 Formula One power unit represents a case study in partnership evolution. What began as a focused collaboration on electrical components has grown into comprehensive participation across all aspects of power unit development—a transformation driven by strategic alignment, technical opportunity, and organizational chemistry.

The shift reflects Ford’s revised road car strategy, which maintains commitment to internal combustion engines alongside hybrid and electric powertrains. This strategic pivot made Formula One participation more relevant for technology transfer, justifying increased investment and involvement.

For Red Bull, Ford’s expanded role provides crucial manufacturing capabilities, engineering expertise, and resources that strengthen the team’s ambitious leap into power unit manufacturing. The daily flow of components from Dearborn to Milton Keynes, the collaborative problem-solving, and the shared pursuit of performance targets exemplify effective partnership dynamics.

Whether this expanded collaboration delivers competitive success remains to be seen. The 2026 regulations create unprecedented challenges, and established manufacturers bring advantages in accumulated knowledge and experience. However, Ford and Red Bull have built a partnership that extends beyond contractual obligations into genuine technical cooperation—a foundation that may prove as valuable as any specific technical advantage.

As the Barcelona test approaches and the 2026 season draws nearer, the Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit will face its ultimate validation: competitive performance against Formula One’s best. The journey to that moment has already exceeded initial expectations, with Ford’s involvement deepening in ways neither party anticipated when the partnership began.