Ford confirmed this Friday (03) that it will return to Formula 1 after almost twenty years out of the category. In synergy with the introduction of the RB19, Red Bull Racing’s (RBR) car for the 2023 championship, the American automaker revealed its strategic partnership with the motorsport team and plans for its return.
According to a press release, the companies will team up to build a hybrid powertrain that will make its debut in the 2026 season. These units will possibly be used in Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri cars by 2030, taking the place of Honda, the team’s current partner.
The segment giant states that it will contribute its “technical experience in areas such as battery cell and electric motor technology, in addition to software and control analysis on power units”. The partnership aims to meet the new sustainability regulations approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
With that, Ford mentions a system with a 350 kW electric motor and a combustion engine that runs on sustainable fuel elements. The set should mark the return of the multinational to the championship, which removed its engines from the tracks in 2004.
F1’s greater commitment to more eco-friendly aligns with Ford’s $50 billion investment to “lead the electric vehicle revolution,” a philosophy that bears fruit like the all-electric Mustang Match-E SUV and F-150 Lightning Pro pickup truck, as well as hybrids for consumers such as Maverick Hybrid.