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Red Bull’s Partnership with Ford: A Game-Changer for F1 Dominance?

Redação by Redação
February 6, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Otmar Szafnauer Reveals Personal Sacrifice During Force India Crisis: Paid Employees’ Salaries Out of Pocket

May 7, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer arrives before the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Otmar Szafnauer has detailed the key advantages Red Bull stands to gain from its “very competent” Formula 1 engine partner, Ford. With deep motorsport roots and a wealth of experience, Ford’s collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains could provide the Austrian outfit with a competitive edge heading into the new era of F1 regulations.

Why Szafnauer’s Insight Matters

As a former Alpine and Aston Martin Team Principal, Szafnauer has an in-depth understanding of what it takes to run a successful F1 operation. Having served as Ford’s Programmes Manager for over a decade before joining BAR in 1998, he is well-versed in the American manufacturer’s motorsport operations.

Ford is currently producing key components for Red Bull Powertrains, with their combined efforts set to hit the F1 grid in 2026. Szafnauer commended Ford as a highly capable partner that brings significant expertise to Red Bull’s engine project.

“Ford is a massive and very capable company, and they’ve been racing for a long time, including in Formula 1,” Szafnauer told PlanetF1. “They owned their own team, were engine suppliers, and even owned Cosworth for a while. Their racing roots run really deep.”

Learning from Jaguar’s Missteps

Red Bull’s history with Ford dates back to its 2004 acquisition of Jaguar Racing for just £1. Despite Ford’s extensive racing pedigree, its Jaguar F1 project was plagued by inefficiencies and underperformance. Szafnauer hopes lessons from that era have been effectively communicated to Ford’s current F1 leadership.

“The one thing I learned when I left Ford to go to BAR was that some things that worked well at Ford could be applied in F1—but others would slow the process down,” he explained. “You have to know which to use and which to leave behind.”

How Ford’s Methodology Can Benefit Red Bull

Despite past struggles, Szafnauer believes Ford’s approach to structured development can positively impact Red Bull’s future. He cited Ford’s gateway system—a project management model that enforces checkpoints throughout a car’s development cycle—as an example of how major automakers can bring efficiency to F1 operations.

“In car programmes, we’d have to go through gateways—specific checkpoints where we reviewed progress,” Szafnauer said. “That too is now being applied in Formula One because it works. For example, in 2023, teams are already considering what their 2026 cars will look like. These structured milestones help ensure teams stay competitive.”

This forward-thinking model has also been embraced by Williams, where Team Principal James Vowles has been aggressively focusing on the new regulations set to take effect in 2026.

“This method forces teams onto a strong path to success,” Szafnauer explained. “It ensures progress is made or identifies why it isn’t, allowing teams to allocate resources effectively.”

Striking the Balance Between Process and Agility

While structured planning is valuable, Szafnauer warns that excessive process-driven approaches can stifle agility, a key component in F1’s rapid development cycle.

“You can’t be overly process-driven, because that’ll slow development,” he noted. “It’s about finding the balance between structure and adaptability.”

Szafnauer’s Personal Learnings from Ford Applied in F1

Szafnauer revealed that his time at Ford directly influenced his team management strategies in F1. One such innovation was restructuring how teams managed their car development, subdividing major projects into three key areas for more effective oversight.

“When leading big projects, I introduced a system where manufacturing and purchasing responsibilities were divided among three sub-project leaders,” he said. “Each was accountable for ensuring parts were delivered on time and at the highest quality level. This was something I borrowed from Ford, and I don’t think any F1 team had been structured that way before.”

Red Bull’s Future with Ford: A Winning Formula?

Ford’s collaboration with Red Bull Powertrains is poised to reshape the competitive landscape in Formula 1. With the 2026 regulations approaching and rivals like Audi and Cadillac entering the fray, Red Bull’s ability to leverage Ford’s expertise while maintaining its own high-speed innovation will be crucial.

As Szafnauer highlighted, “If you mix what works at Ford with what works in F1, you can achieve great success. But if you mix them incorrectly, you risk slowing things down.”

The coming seasons will reveal whether Red Bull and Ford can create the perfect formula for continued dominance in the sport.

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