Horner: Red Bull-Ford powertrain debut a 'monumental moment'

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The clock is ticking. In just twelve months, the roar of a Red Bull-Ford powertrain will echo through the F1 pit lane for the very first time, and it will be a "monumental moment" according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

As the team battles to reclaim the Constructors' Championship in 2025, an even bigger challenge looms on the horizon for the Milton Keynes-based outfit: the 2026 power unit regulations.

Red Bull, spurred by Honda's initial decision in 2021 to leave F1, took the bold step of establishing its own powertrains division. However, they are not going it alone.

The Ford Motor Company, returning to Formula 1 after a lengthy hiatus, has joined forces with the team to create and develop the sport's next-generation power unit.

An Ambitious Yet Realistic Outlook

Horner isn't sugarcoating the challenge.

"We're under no illusions that we've got great mountains to climb," he admitted earlier this week at a Ford Performance event in the US.

"We've got 48 weeks of flat-out development and durability testing to get the engine into as competitive a position as we can to start racing in 2026".

The competition is fierce, with established giants like Ferrari and Mercedes in the mix.

"What we don't know is what our competitors are doing. But this time next year, cars with Red Bull Ford powertrains are going to be pulling into the pit lanes in Barcelona for the first time, which is going to be a monumental moment."

The return of the blue oval is a source of excitement for Horner.

"To be bringing it back to Formula 1 next year, to see the blue oval on the side of our cars, is going to be very exciting," he says. "It's going to be great for Ford, it's great for Red Bull."

Ford's Expanding Role in the Project

For Ford, its partnership with Red Bull represents a powerful opportunity.

"Formula 1 is our chance to showcase Ford technologies on a global stage to a whole new audience, generating excitement for the iconic Ford brand all around the world," says Ford Motor Company President and CEO Jim Farley.

"This is such an exciting chapter in Ford's history.

"Over the past 20 years Red Bull has succeeded in changing the landscape of Formula 1 and it has done so by being determined to do things differently, an ethos that is very much emulated in the Red Bull Ford Powertrains partnership and with the title sponsorship of the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme."

A Company Wide Involvement

Ford's initial role with Red Bull Powertrains was expected to be limited to financial and technical support on the hybrid side of the project, but its involvement has expanded significantly.

Leveraging cutting-edge 3D printing technology, Ford Performance has played a pivotal role in manufacturing critical components for Red Bull's power unit.

Ford Performance Motorsports Powertrain Manager Christian Hertrich revealed just how integral this technology has become.

"It's not things like nuts and bolts and easy stuff," Hertrich explained. "These are complex metal and polymer parts that get tested to extremes so they can withstand races that average 200 miles an hour."

Ford is pulling expertise from across its entire organization to ensure Red Bull Powertrains is equipped with the best possible resources.

"We're pulling in all of these Ford teams with all of these areas of expertise to help in the program. It's not just the motorsport group working on this. It's amazing to see how many different areas of the company have already been involved."

As the countdown to 2026 continues, Red Bull and Ford are pushing the limits of what's possible in F1 power unit development.

With an ambitious roadmap and a determination to take on the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Honda associated with Aston Martin, the Red Bull-Ford collaboration is shaping up to be one of the sport's most fascinating new chapters.

Consequently, when those engines fire up in Barcelona for pre-season testing, it will mark a defining moment for both Red Bull Racing and Ford's long-awaited return to the F1 grid.

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