American car maker Ford has confirmed it will return to Formula 1 in 2026.
While Ford has not yet confirmed whether it will work with an existing F1 team, it is widely expected to team up with Red Bull, which is about to present its new livery for the 2023 season.
The company’s executive chair Bill Ford said its return to F1 it is “the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company.
“Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali welcomed the manufacturer’s return. “The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1,” he said.
“They are a global brand with an incredible heritage in the racing and automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world.
“Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing ’round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.”
Ford funded the creation of the Cosworth DFV V8, which became one the most dominant F1 engines following its introduction in 1967, powering a succession of drivers and teams to world championships. It returned with a turbo engine in 1986 for the former Haas team, before partnering with Benetton and eventually taking Michael Schumacher to the world championship with Benetton in 1994.
After transferring its engines to the new Stewart team in 1997, Ford rebranded the operation as Jaguar three years later, but sold the team to Red Bull at the end of 2004.
This article will be updated.
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