F1 News: Ford Gives Update On Red Bull Partnership - "Still A Long Way To Go"
Talking about the positive developments that took place over the last year, Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook spoke of a great start with partner Red Bull for the year 2026 when F1 ushers into a new era of regulations.
Ford, amid substantial growth in the electric vehicle domain, is actively involved in crafting Red Bull's power unit through collaboration with the newly formed Red Bull Powertrains.
The upcoming regulations mandate a comprehensive redesign of both the F1 car's chassis and power unit, incorporating a 50/50 balance between internal combustion and electric power. Furthermore, the internal combustion component will be fueled by sustainable fuels.
Currently, Honda is the engine supplier for Red Bull, with their contract set to conclude at the end of 2025. Starting in 2026, the Japanese manufacturer will provide new power units to Aston Martin. The great reset in the sport inclined toward the use of sustainable fuels has also attracted manufacturers like Audi, as it is poised to take over Sauber's Stake F1 team in 2026.
Red Bull's current show of dominance could compel its new engine partner to come under pressure if it were to continue its winning streak in Formula 1's new era of rules. After all, the outfit and Max Verstappen broke several records last year after winning 21 out of the 22 Grands Prix as a team, while the Dutch driver won his third championship title.
Speaking about a positive first year with Red Bull, Rushbrook told Motorsport.com that they are "focused on winning":
“With Red Bull the work is going very well, they are our partners and we are focused on winning.
“We want to have the ability to win in motorsport and we hope to do that with the best possible partner.
“We’ve made a lot of progress over the last year, but there’s still a long way to go, with a lot of development to do to be ready to be on the grid in 2026.”
