Red Bull and Ford, both participants in the Formula 1 World Championship, are not concerned about the lack of experience compared to other engine manufacturers. Ford, an American automotive brand, will collaborate with Red Bull’s Powertrains division to develop engines under the modified regulations for 2026. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, acknowledged that they have a “70-year disadvantage compared to Ferrari”. However, Ford believes that their focus on the upcoming rule change will help them overcome this deficiency. Mark Rushbrook, Ford’s global director of motorsports, stated that while Ferrari has the advantage of knowledge and experience, Ford’s advantage lies in the fact that their team is solely dedicated to developing the power unit for 2026, unlike other teams who are also working on current power units.
Rushbrook confirmed Horner’s statements about the progress made by Ford and Red Bull, but acknowledged that there are no guarantees of competitiveness. “In the early stages of any project, we set goals and milestones, and currently we are meeting our own objectives,” he said. However, the pace in Formula 1 is much faster than any other motorsport we have experienced. It is a continuous and accelerated journey from the start of development until 2030, when we conclude this set of regulations.”
Addressing speculation that Red Bull is falling behind other manufacturers, Rushbrook reiterated that they are on track to achieve their internal goals. “I must emphasize that we have set our own development goals for this power unit based on our expertise and what we believe is necessary for success in 2026,” he explained. “We have no knowledge of where our competitors are or how they are progressing, so we cannot make a direct comparison. However, in terms of meeting our own standards of success, we are in a favorable position.”
While Ford’s primary responsibility is to assist in the electrical aspects of the next generation power units, Rushbrook revealed that their expertise has also been utilized in other areas. “Our team has direct technical collaboration with the Milton Keynes campus, contributing in various capacities,” he clarified. “Initially, internal combustion engines and turbos were not part of the plan, but our knowledge in modeling and testing has proven valuable and has been incorporated. However, our main focus remains on electrification, which presents a significant opportunity.”
