Red Bull has already announced its 2026 F1 season launch with Ford

Red Bull has announced both its Formula 1 teams’ 2026 liveries will be unveiled at its season launch on 15 January in Detroit, Michigan, where new engine partner Ford is based.

2026 will mark the end of Red Bull’s successful Honda partnership and the beginning of its new era as the Red Bull Ford powertrains equip the upcoming RB22 as well as the next Racing Bulls car.

F1’s technical overhaul for 2026 features new power units with a near-50:50 split between combustion and electric power, hence the timing of Red Bull’s switch to a new engine set-up.

“The launch of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains era represents not only a bold step into the future, but a powerful expression of what’s possible when world-class engineering, innovation, and passion come together,” Red Bull CEO Laurent Mekies said.

“To see the energy, precision, and scale behind this project is inspiring. It’s the culmination of several years of collaboration between two great names in motorsport. We’re incredibly excited to begin this new chapter, driven by the same determination and excellence that defines both Ford and Red Bull.”

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images

Racing Bulls’ Peter Bayer added: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Ford back into the world of Formula 1. With over 125 years of heritage, innovation, and absolute dedication to performance, Ford embodies the same competitive spirit that drives our team. This partnership brings together global brands united by a love of racing and a commitment to pushing boundaries.”

From Ford’s point of view, the new partnership aims not only at success on the track but also improving the brand’s road vehicles.

“Since we announced our return to F1 with Red Bull, the Ford team have been working night and day to get ready for 2026,” Ford Motor Company president Jim Farley said.

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“But this is about so much more than just the racing. It is about how we use our learnings from F1 to make our cars and trucks better for our customers. What we will learn together with Red Bull will define the technologies of the future and that is what excites me most about this relationship.”

The opening pre-season test for the 2026 F1 season will take place from 26-30 January, but new regulations on the chassis side mean teams are racing against the clock and won’t necessarily be able to launch their proper challengers – as opposed to liveries only – as early as 15 January.

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