With a strong sense of optimism, Ford CEO Jim Farley looks forward to the collaboration with Red Bull Racing in creating the F1 2026 power unit. This partnership aims to set a new benchmark in Formula 1, as they strive for top-tier performance and victories.
Red Bull Racing has been a formidable force in the current era of Formula 1, securing all Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships and achieving an astounding 21 wins out of 22 races over the 2023 season. Max Verstappen made history with 19 victories, while Sergio Pérez added two more to the team’s impressive tally.
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The landscape of Formula 1 is set to undergo significant changes in 2026, with new chassis and power unit regulations coming into effect. This period marks Red Bull Racing’s debut as a power unit manufacturer in a joint venture with Ford.
Ford envisions a continued winning streak for Red Bull in F1 2026
Despite Red Bull Racing’s relative inexperience in power unit development, CEO Jim Farley is impressed with the exceptional team being assembled at their Milton Keynes base. With Ford’s expertise lending support, Farley anticipates that Red Bull will maintain its streak of triumphs in the sport.
“I had a chance to spend a lot of time with the team in Milton Keynes and and with [Red Bull design chief] Adrian Newey,” Farley said at Ford’s 2024 motorsport season launch.
“Even though [2026] sounds like a long way away, we have a lot of work to do on the powertrain, but I’m really happy with the progress. I wish I could tell you more, but I would say we’re on track.
“We’ve got the best drivers, we’ve got the best technical support. We have the best of Ford and around the globe to support them. But the team, the powertrain team that they’re building in Milton Keynes is absolutely top notch. We are going first class to the very top of the podium.”
In a recent conversation with the press, Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, provided an update on the development of Red Bull Powertrains. He acknowledged that there is still significant work ahead to prepare the inaugural power unit for the 2026 Red Bull car. However, Horner expressed his confidence in having the right team assembled to tackle this challenge.
“It’s busy, there’s 24 months before that engine will be being bolted into the back of the RB22,” he said.
“It’s not that long in the engine world so there’s still an awful lot more to do in a very short period of time.
“But I’m confident that we’ve got the right people, and we can get there.
“We’re not going to go into detail yet of where we’re at, but we’re on a trajectory.
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“But we’ve got a lot of ground to cover and a lot of ground to make up – we’re competing against manufacturers that have decades of experience.
“Red Bull, 30 months ago, this project was still embryonic. So what’s been achieved in 13 months has been outstanding.
“It’s a massive undertaking. It’s a ballsy undertaking that we’ve taken on but we believe that it’s the right route for the company, for the future.”
Red Bull Racing will maintain their use of Honda engines until the conclusion of 2025. Following this, Honda will partner with Aston Martin as the new regulatory era starts.
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