[ad_1]
Looks like Ford interested in joining Formula One in partnership with reigning champions Red Bull Racing. The Detroit automaker is most famously involved in Grand Prix racing through its funding and support of the Cosworth DFV engine, the most successful machine in racing history, in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. This is last participant in F1 included the Jaguar F1 team in the early 2000s, where the automaker was then sold to Red Bull in 2005.
Red Bull Racing’s relationship with its power unit partners has been rocky over the past decade. The F1 team went from winning four straight championships with Renault to cutting ties with the French automaker and runs unbranded machines. Red Bull then sifted through the ashes of the failed McLaren-Honda reunion to partner with the Japanese manufacturer. In his third season with Honda, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the 2021 World Drivers’ Championship. However, Honda announced before the season even started that it will leave F1 after 2021.
Motorsport.com has reported that Ford is exploring options to partner with Red Bull Racing in 2026. The potential partnership largely revolves around branding, financial support and technical support. Ford will not build a hybrid V6 power unit for the 2026 F1 regulations. Red Bull is committed to developing its own power unit even if the team enters into any agreement with a manufacturer.
Team Principal Christian Horner said to Mautosport.com earlier this year:
“We are fully committed to a Red Bull power unit, and if there is a similar partner who can contribute something to the project, of course you have to fully consider that. But it is not a requirement.
We will be the only team other than Ferrari to have the engine and chassis on one campus under one roof. We believe that for the long-term competitiveness of the team, this is absolutely the right thing to do. And of course, there are other opportunities it presents as well.”
Following Honda’s withdrawal, Red Bull created Red Bull Powertrains to develop a power unit for 2026. The team also negotiated exclusive power unit distribution rights from Honda so that Red Bull and AlphaTauri can continue on both machines until the rules change. And yes, Ferrari is the only other team that has its power unit development facilities on-site. Mercedes, Alpine and Audi soon based their racing team proper and engine development in two different locations.
Ford can offer the Porsche can’t: autonomy. In the World Rally Championship, Ford lets M-Sport independently represent the automaker albeit with minimal support. Obviously, the Ford-Cosworth DFV is the perfect example of the partnership Red Bull wants.
[ad_2]
Source link
