Ford has underlined its return to Formula 1 ahead of the 2026 season through a heartfelt public letter from Will Ford, the great-great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford.
Ford has partnered with Red Bull Powertrains to support the development of Red Bull’s first in-house power unit, marking the brand’s comeback to the pinnacle of motorsport after a 22-year absence. The project coincides with Formula 1’s new technical era, which places a significantly greater emphasis on electrification and energy recovery.
The partnership was showcased publicly with the unveiling of the 2026 liveries for Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls in Detroit, Ford’s home city. The launch served as a symbolic statement that Ford’s involvement extends beyond branding, positioning the programme as a long-term engineering collaboration with direct relevance to road-car technology.
In his letter, Will Ford traced the roots of Ford’s racing DNA back to the company’s origins, linking the modern Formula 1 project to Henry Ford’s decisive victory in 1901 — a moment that enabled the creation of Ford Motor Company. To preserve editorial clarity and formality, the full statement is presented below in a structured table.
Public Letter from Will Ford – General Manager, Ford Racing
| Official Statement |
|---|
| “One hundred and twenty-five years ago, my great-great-grandfather, Henry Ford, stepped into a car he called ‘Sweepstakes.’ He wasn’t a professional racer, and he wasn’t a favourite to win. That victory in 1901 didn’t just earn a trophy — it secured the investment that allowed Ford Motor Company to exist.” |
| “At Ford, we weren’t just inspired by racing. We were born from it. That’s why the atmosphere at Ford Racing feels different today. After a 22-year absence, we are returning to the pinnacle of motorsport. Twenty-two years is too long.” |
| “When I first saw the new liveries for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, I didn’t see a marketing asset. I saw my family’s name back on a global stage where we have unfinished business.” |
| “We are supporting the development of a high-voltage power unit. This isn’t a hobby. This is the drama of the sport — the late nights and the brutal technical hurdles of building a solution that can survive the most demanding tracks on the planet.” |
| “People often say the track is a laboratory. That’s too clinical. The track is a battlefield.” |
| “The high-voltage systems and battery software we are refining for 2026 are the literal blueprints for the vehicles our customers will drive every day. When you buy a Ranger Raptor or an F-150, you are buying the data and grit earned in racing.” |
| “We are not in Formula 1 simply to collect trophies. We are there to engineer more capable Ford vehicles.” |
| “To the fans who have waited two decades: we’re back. To our team: thank you for the work that got us here. The Blue Oval is back where it belongs.” |
From a strategic standpoint, Ford has made clear that its Formula 1 involvement is intended to accelerate innovation across its wider product portfolio. Technologies developed alongside Red Bull — particularly in high-voltage systems, energy management, and software — are expected to transfer directly into future production vehicles.
For Red Bull, the partnership delivers industrial scale, manufacturing expertise, and electrification know-how to its most ambitious technical programme to date. For Ford, Formula 1 represents a return to its competitive roots, positioning the championship as a proving ground rather than a promotional platform.
As the 2026 grid approaches a regulatory reset, Will Ford’s letter frames Ford’s comeback not as nostalgia, but as a forward-looking commitment. The message is unambiguous: Ford is returning to Formula 1 to compete, to innovate, and to translate motorsport intensity into road-going performance.
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