January 18, 2026
TLDR: Ford brought the Red Bull F1 season launch to Michigan Central Station last week, marking the automaker’s first involvement in Formula 1 since 2004. Ford is manufacturing 12 3D-printed components per power unit at its Redford facility. The partnership signals a commitment to advanced manufacturing technology that extends well beyond racing.
Will Ford stood at the podium inside Michigan Central Station last Wednesday with a statement that surprised no one who knows the family history: “We have unfinished business.”
The great-great-grandson of Henry Ford was announcing something the automaker hasn’t done since Jaguar Racing shut down in 2004. Ford is returning to Formula 1, partnering with Red Bull to supply power unit components starting with the 2026 season.
This isn’t a badge deal. Ford is manufacturing 12 3D-printed parts per power unit at its Redford, Michigan facility using direct-metal laser sintering. The components include turbine housings, motor housings, and exhaust collectors, all produced through additive manufacturing processes that represent the leading edge of automotive production technology.
Why It Matters Beyond Racing
The 2026 F1 regulations fundamentally reshape the sport’s powertrain architecture. Electrical power increases to 50% of total output, triple the current proportion. For Ford, participation means developing high-performance electric drive systems under conditions that demand absolute reliability and efficiency.
The technology transfer potential is obvious. Battery management systems, power electronics, and thermal management solutions developed for F1 applications eventually migrate to production vehicles. Ford’s commitment to electrification across its passenger vehicle lineup gives these developments commercial relevance that extends far beyond paddock prestige.
Red Bull Ford Powertrains represents Red Bull’s first in-house engine program since joining Formula 1 in 2005. The partnership gives Ford access to one of the sport’s most successful recent operations, with Max Verstappen defending multiple championships and organizational capability that few competitors can match.
Detroit as Global Stage
Ford chose Michigan Central Station for the global launch deliberately. The restored train station has become Ford’s mobility innovation campus, a symbol of Detroit’s attempt to remain relevant in an automotive industry increasingly centered elsewhere. Bringing international motorsport media to Detroit for a global broadcast event reinforces that narrative.
The livery reveals showed Red Bull’s RB22 in a glossy electric blue throwback to the team’s 2005 debut, while the Racing Bulls VCARB03 went with an all-white base accented by blue. Both cars will carry Ford branding when the season opens at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.
The Investment Context
Ford-Cosworth engines won 154 Formula 1 races between 1967 and 1983, establishing Ford’s motorsport credentials for a generation of enthusiasts. The return carries that legacy forward, but the economic calculation is contemporary.
F1’s audience has exploded since Netflix’s Drive to Survive documentary series began airing. American viewership in particular has grown dramatically, with races in Miami, Las Vegas, and Austin drawing substantial attendance. For Ford, the sport offers brand exposure to demographics that may not otherwise engage with truck-focused marketing.
Whether F-Series sales benefit from Formula 1 participation is unknowable. But Ford’s willingness to commit manufacturing resources and engineering talent to the partnership suggests the company sees value beyond racing results. The Redford facility producing F1 components is the same industrial base that supports Ford’s broader production network.
The unfinished business Will Ford referenced goes back two decades. Whether this generation of Fords can match what Cosworth achieved remains to be proven. But Michigan Central Station last week showed Ford committed to finding out.
