Ford is clarifying its role in Formula 1 with Red Bull. In the past, the names of major automotive brands were often used merely as sponsors. For example, Alfa Romeo was simply the name of the Sauber team, a strategic move years ago by Sergio Marchionne as the first step toward a real return of the Italian manufacturer to the pinnacle of motorsport as a fully-fledged original equipment producer.
The same can be said for Aston Martin, which a few years ago served as the title sponsor for the Milton Keynes-based team. Questions have long circulated regarding the technological contribution of the American automotive giant in the development of Red Bull’s second-generation power units. Starting next year, these power units will be produced by Ford’s Powertrains division, signaling a more active engineering partnership.
Support in additive manufacturing and quality control
Ford is assisting Red Bull in additive manufacturing, particularly 3D printing. The advanced 3D printing technology employed by the American company allows for the creation of components that are impossible to produce using conventional methods. Ford is leveraging its extensive experience to produce critical parts that will become part of the power units, both for the internal combustion engine and the hybrid system components.
Each component undergoes rigorous testing to assess mechanical strength, hardness, and geometric compliance, utilizing 3D scanning technology. Non-destructive evaluation experts employ X-ray and CT scans to generate detailed digital models and inspect internal structures that cannot be examined using traditional tools. This approach has proven highly effective.
CT scans, in particular, can detect voids within printed components as well as areas susceptible to delamination—a phenomenon in which the layers created during 3D printing separate. These capabilities highlight the critical importance of Ford’s contribution to Red Bull’s car development process.
The decisive added value of Ford
Mark Rushbrook, Ford’s Motorsport Director, has provided further insights into the scope of the collaboration between Red Bull and the American automotive giant. Initially, Ford did not plan to work on the internal combustion engine, but the partnership was later expanded for a clear reason: the company recognized a knowledge gap that needed to be addressed. What began as a collaboration limited to component production now extends across all areas of the car.
Ford’s entry into Formula 1 allows it to deepen expertise in specific areas of the new power units, set to debut in the upcoming regulatory cycle. These areas include battery chemistry, propulsion systems, inverters, calibration, and control systems, and understanding how these elements interact with the internal combustion engine. According to Mark Rushbrook, the start of the collaboration with the Milton Keynes team was highly favorable. Red Bull had just decided to develop its own 2026 program. Although the project was still in its early stages, the team was aware of its limited resources.
“Milton Keynes had never developed its own engine before,” Mark Rushbrook noted, emphasizing that Ford is stepping into a significant legacy. Red Bull’s previous partnership with Honda, both officially and unofficially, was highly successful. The new challenge for the American automotive powerhouse is to help bring a historic brand back to the forefront of Formula 1.
Ford’s contribution is set to impact all areas of Red Bull’s next-generation car, combining cutting-edge additive manufacturing, advanced quality control, and expertise in hybrid power units. The collaboration could define the team’s performance in the 2026 season and potentially reshape the competitive landscape of Formula 1. We will be closely watching how this ambitious partnership develops in the months ahead.
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