Red Bull look to Ford for F1 revival as Verstappen faces uncertain future

It’s no secret that Max Verstappen and Red Bull will only be catching a distant glimpse of the rear end of McLaren for the foreseeable future — even with the flying Dutchman’s trademark aggressive driving.

Turned all the way up, the RB21 still has no chance this season of catching the papaya lightning, even with Verstappen behind the wheel. A fifth consecutive world title now looks out of reach.

The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka figuratively marked the end of Red Bull’s successful partnership with Honda, as Christian Horner’s team now focus on their new alliance with American car manufacturer Ford.

Aimed at a more sustainable approach to Formula One, Ford will work with Red Bull to develop the next-generation hybrid power units for both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri.

Aimed at a more sustainable approach to Formula One, Ford will work with Red Bull to develop the next-generation hybrid power units for both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri. 

Ford will return to F1 after more than two decades away from the sport. 

Ford’s involvement

Ford will be involved in developing the new battery and electric motor technology, power unit control software and analytics, and the combustion engine.

The 2026 F1 regulations dictate that constructors must use a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power. The new rules also require teams to run on 100% synthetic fuels sourced sustainably.

This means they will need to develop a completely new fuel to suit the revised combustion engine. On the electric side, power output will increase from 119kW to 355kW, so a larger portion of the car’s power will come from electricity.

This presents a mammoth task for both Red Bull and Ford, who essentially must build a new car from the ground up for the next era. It will also naturally raise questions for Verstappen about when he will have a car capable of competing at the front again.

Why Red Bull are behind

Teams like Mercedes and McLaren have already invested significant time and resources into researching and developing their next-generation hybrid systems, with visible progress on track this season.

Red Bull, on the other hand, opted not to fully develop hybrid motors in-house, due to their strategic focus at the time and the available partners. Honda announced their withdrawal from F1 at the end of 2021, leaving Horner in search of a new collaborator.

Ford became a viable option for Red Bull’s entry into the hybrid era, thanks to their extensive experience with electrification, battery technology and software analytics. Alongside their expertise, Ford brings considerable financial muscle — a vital asset for building a new system from scratch, which is undoubtedly a prohibitively expensive endeavour.

Red Bull will still lead the development of the chassis and aerodynamic design — an area in which they have historically excelled — while Ford will take the reins of engine development.

Will Ford be Red Bull and Verstappen’s saving Grace?

While this new venture may sound promising, for Verstappen it represents a significant obstacle in his Red Bull career. The 2025 winter break will be pivotal, as the team must have their new car ready ahead of the following season.

However, there are still 18 races left on this year’s calendar, which require Red Bull’s full attention — unless, of course, they have internally conceded defeat to McLaren.

Verstappen has expressed frustration over his inability to keep pace with McLaren this year but has handled it with more composure than in previous seasons. Last year, he was handed community service after using profane language when asked about the car.

Profanities aside, Verstappen has still produced some spectacular drives this year — winning at Suzuka and taking pole position in Miami last week. But that pole was short-lived, with Oscar Piastri pushing hard from the moment the lights went out.

Speculation around Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has swirled amid the team’s current struggles, though he has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to Aston Martin.

It’s likely the reigning world champion will give the Red Bull–Ford partnership a fair shot before deciding on his future with the Milton Keynes outfit. But in Formula 1, nothing is ever certain.