Ford Performance Head Says F1 Project Goes Beyond Electrification

When weighing its return to F1 racing, Ford Performance examined several possible avenues, including purchasing an existing team before it finally settled on a partnership with Red Bull Racing (RBR). Since then, The Blue Oval has completely dedicated itself to helping RBR develop a power unit that aligns with the new regulations inbound for the 2026 season and beyond, and while electrification elements are a key component, Mark Rushbrook says that the program goes far beyond that.

As per a report from Motorsport, Rushbrook said that Ford Performance is fully devoted to the F1 deal with RBR. The partnership “continues to grow stronger every day,” and The Blue Oval is delivering on its end of things. That includes a wealth of 3D-printed parts and engine tech – both on the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric sides of things. In fact, Rushbrook said Ford is contributing more than he expected it to out of the gate.

“The initial focus or agreement was mostly on the electrification side,” Rushbrook told Motorsport. “But in terms of the number of components that we’re able to build within our advanced manufacturing facility and with our printing machines, it has become more than that and we’re able to contribute real-time in the development phase.”

He added, “We’re literally making parts every day and shipping parts from Dearborn every day that are being tested in the labs in Milton Keynes. Many of those will actually go into production as well.”

2023 Ford Puma M-Sport race car

Rushbrook was also involved with recent discussions regarding the sport’s future, including the development of new power unit regulations down the line. For its part, Ford Performance has already accelerated production of its power units to make sure everything’s in place for 2026. In fact, Ford Performance says that it’s already built over 1,000 individual parts for partnership with RBR.