Ford Reaffirms Red Bull F1 Engine Partnership Will Stand Regardless of Verstappen's Future

The automaker says its support is tied to Red Bull’s 2026 in-house power-unit program, not to any single driver.

Overview

Ford Performance director Mark Rushbrook said the company would not exit if Max Verstappen left Red Bull, calling him a "generational talent."
Under 2026 regulations, Red Bull will race its first in-house power units as Red Bull Ford Powertrains with Ford providing technical support.
Rushbrook said Verstappen is actively engaged with the project and has visited Ford’s facilities several times.
Red Bull enters 2026 after departures of long-serving leaders and with Laurent Mekies as team principal, placing added focus on the new engine program’s competitiveness.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls will open car launch season with a joint event in Detroit on January 15 alongside Ford and the full driver lineup.