Ford say preparations for their partnership with Red Bull Racing are on track. However, the future engine partner of Red Bull Powertrains does mention a number of concerns that are important for the introduction of the new engine regulations in Formula 1 in 2026.
'Collaboration between Ford and Red Bull goes smoothly'
Ford have partnered with the Milton Keynes-based team, with the two parties jointly developing the engine for the 2026 F1 season. According to CEO Jim Farley, preparations are going according to plan for now. "I had a chance to spend a lot of time with the team in Milton Keynes and with Adrian Newey," he is quoted by Speedcafe.com.
He continued: "I think we're on track. '26, even though it sounds like a long way away, we have a lot of work to do on the power train, but I'm really happy with the progress." However, there are concerns about the ratio of combustion to electric power in the new rules. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner suggested that this would force drivers to downshift on straights.
Farley did not comment on Horner's concerns, but his words sound hopeful. "We have got the best team that's involved. We’ve got the best drivers, we’ve got the best technical support. We have the best of Ford around the globe to support them. But the powertrain team that they're building in Milton Keynes is absolutely top notch. We're going first class to the very top of the podium," said the Ford CEO.