There have been recent rumbles regarding The Blue Oval’s potential return to the open wheel racing scene, as Ford eyes a potential resurgence into Formula One. F1 racing is rapidly gaining popularity in the U.S., and it would make sense for an American automaker like Ford to field a race car. As a result, Ford Performance head Mark Rushbrook, recently spoke with Motorsport to explain The Blue Oval’s stance on the matter.
According to Rushbrook, Ford would be foolish to completely write off the idea, and as such, considerations of F1 competition should be taken seriously. “Formula 1 is certainly strong and growing, both in the United States and globally,” Rushbrook told the publication. “What they have done well is create great racing and great competition. It’s still the pinnacle, but they’ve been able to reach new audiences with things like [Netflix docuseries] Drive to Survive.”
He went on, “As a company we go racing for innovation, tech transfer, the learning opportunity, but also for marketing reasons as well. It’s shifted for sure, and it definitely requires consideration.”
If it were to come to fruition, a Ford F1 entry could be seen as soon as 2026, and could very well be facilitated by Red Bull Racing (RBR). In fact, Ford Performance previously had a partnership with RBR in F1 before pulling out of the international racing series in 2004. While RBR currently fields Honda-powered race cars, that could certainly change, as its arrangement with Honda is set to expire upon conclusion of the 2025 season.
Ford Performance likely would not command full ownership of the team, and would instead defer to RBR for technical development of its power units while providing assistance and expertise when needed. Ford does already have a standing relationship with Red Bull, whose logo appears on the Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid race cars in the FIA WRC.
“We don’t comment on speculation,” Rushbrook told Motorsport in response to an inquiry about returning to F1 in 2026, “but it’s the same with all these series that are out there. It’s our responsibility to study them and understand them, and then make decisions on whether it makes sense or doesn’t make sense.”
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Comments
Wow! Think the 2016 LeMans effort was expensive…F1 will be astronomical! Hey, I’m all for it if Ford thinks they want to spend the resources. With all the cut backs going on though, this really seems like a stretch…
Another Ford Motor wet dream! Ford spending $$$$$$ like a drunken sailor.
What does MS stand for money saving watchdog ? Why should you care it does not cost you 1 red cent.
You have to spend money to make money, they were pretty successful before and will be again, don’t worry be happy go like Hell Ford!!!!
Sadly, Ford does not seem to understand the significance of gear heads and motor sports in the automotive market. By that I mean, Ford never sticks with any racing endeavor. Examples; prior Formula 1 efforts (fine re-enter a day late and a dollar short), Ford GT program, Ken Block (his unfortunate passing clearly showed Ford abandoned a legend, John Force, to name a few. Plus their pulling the plug on SEMA participation and Barrett Jackson sponsorship. If the Strategic Plan calls for all EV, fine, but you are continuing the petrol Mustang and numerous trucks and there is a growing performance market for EV vehicles.
This is strictly to feed an ego….Ford is not capable of a true winning effort….can’t run a race team like a corporate subsidiary….nowhere near as nimble as it needs to be.Better off getting production vehicle quality where it should be than spend time/money on racing.
Fact : Ford has won more races in all catagories than any other brand !
Race on Sunday, sell on Monday !! Go for it !!
GM (Caddy) is going in so why not Ford?
As I read other comments above, I sit dumbfounded over the lack of real knowledge or purposely constructed misinformation from some.
Henry Ford raced one of his first cars successfully over a hundred years ago and his legacy has carried on in company and technology support to teams that compete in F1, Indy, NASCAR, Rally, Endurance, Sports Car Challenges, Drag Racing, Baja, Road Racing, Vintage and a miriad of other venues. Jim Farley is an experienced race driver and extremely competent CEO carrying on that legacy.
You can sit on the sidelines and make stuff up or get involved and get educated. I have driven my GT500 at 170 kph on Mustang track days at a world class racing circuit, I’m no Ken Block but I have a better perspective than an armchair critic. Oh and by the way, the first Ford I ever drove at age 12 was an 8N tractor, my latest is my 2021 Mach E.
Ford made them both.