(Motorsport) Reigning Formula 1 champions Red Bull Racing unveiled their brand new RB19 car at a spectacular launch in New York and announced a major engine partnership with Ford. Drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were both present at the launch and the double world champions revealed that American manufacturing giant Ford will become their new engine supplier in 2026, returning to Formula 1 for the first time in 22 years.
Red Bull Powertrains and Ford will work together on the next-gen hybrid power unit and as per the deal will also supply engines to sister team AlphaTauri. Team boss Christian Horner said “”This will be a true strategic technical partnership; Ford will assist with battery and hybrid technology and much more to keep the team ahead of the competition. I am already very excited about the possibilities that this partnership will offer both of us globally.”
While the RB19 featured typical Red Bull livery, the car is expected to look different once it hits the track at per-season testing on February 23rd. The bar is set high for Red Bull and Verstappen after an extremely successful 2022 season where they won 17 out of 22 races, claiming their first Constructors’ title since 2013 while the Dutchman won 15 races to win his second World Championship. The 2023 cars will feature minor changes and Red Bull are expected to remain favourites despite Scuderia Ferrari beginning their car development much earlier once it became clear that they were out of the title race.
Verstappen will remain Red Bull’s team leader and will partner alongside Sergio Perez while the Dutchman’s former teammate Daniel Ricciardo will have a reserve role. The Australian driver was also present at the RB19 launch. Red Bull’s partnership with Ford is a significant one, especially considering that the American manufacturer has a long history of success in the sport. Ford dominated Formula 1 in the 1960’s and 1970’s, winning seven consecutive drivers’ championships from 1968 to 1974. They were suppliers of nearly all constructors’ power units until the early 1980’s, making one of the most successful engines in F1 history.
Ford returned in 2000 under the guise of Jaguar but pulled back their operations in 2004 after struggling against well-established competitions. Red Bull have been linked with several manufacturers for engines after Honda announced their departure from Formula 1 and a partnership between Red Bull and Ford could become the beginning of a successful era for both brands. Executive chair Bill Ford said “This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company. Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added: “The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1. They are a global brand with an incredible heritage in the racing and automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.”
Also read: FIA launches application process for new teams to join Formula 1
