F1 EXPLAINS: How Ford will work alongside Red Bull in their return to Formula 1

Which engine manufacturer has the most Grand Prix wins in Formula 1 history? Ferrari. Second on that list of victors? Mercedes. Those questions, perhaps, are easy. But what about the manufacturer in third? The company powered winners and champions from the 1960s to the 2000s. They haven’t been on the grid for more than 20 years. There’s a clue in the headline of this article…

From their first victory in 1967 to their last in 2003, Ford engines were an F1 force. In 2026, the company will return to the grid, partnering with Red Bull on a new F1 power unit project.

In the latest episode of the F1 Explains podcast, presenter Christian Hewgill speaks to Mark Rushbrook, Ford Global Director of Racing. Mark explains why Ford are returning to F1, how their partnership with Red Bull will work, what knowledge Ford can use to help Red Bull hit the ground running in the first year of new regulations, and how F1 differs from Ford's other racing teams.

The episode also explains why Red Bull are building their own power unit for 2026 instead of continuing to buy one from another manufacturer, and how the different approaches could affect every team's success in 2026 and beyond.

The full episode of F1 Explains is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all other podcast apps, or you can listen using the player above on this page.

F1 Explains is the award-winning official F1 podcast which answers your questions about the sport. You can send your questions to F1Explains@F1.com.