Partner to be announced shortly
After rumours leaked online last night, Ford has now officially announced that it will re-enter Formula One from 2026, marking a return to the grid after an absence of more than 20 years.
The company’s decision was prompted by the rising popularity of F1 around the world, particularly in key markets such as the United States where the Netflix series F1: Drive to Survive has generated a huge new following for the sport.
“This 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,” said Bill Ford, executive chair of the Ford Motor 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.”
Despite having withdrawn from the F1 in 2004, Ford is one of the sport’s most successful names of all time, the fabled Cosworth DFV engine that dominated the championship in the 1960s and 1970s (variants of which were still scoring points into the 1990s) having borne the Ford name.
Ford-branded power units were the motive force behind 10 F1 constructors’ titles and 13 drivers’ championships, powering cars from Lotus, McLaren and Tyrrell, among others.
The company entered F1 for the first time as a constructor in 2000 with Jaguar Racing (Ford owned Jaguar Cars from 1990 to 2008), having bought the Stewart Grand Prix team in the late nineties.
After its sale in 2004, Jaguar evolved into Red Bull Racing.
Although engines are set to remain turbocharged and hybrid-assisted, new rule changes from 2026 will see all cars running on sustainably-produced synthetic fuels aimed at reducing F1’s carbon footprint.
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The rule changes (as well as the increasing popularity of the sport) have prompted a range of manufacturers to express an interest in and, in some cases, a commitment to taking a place on the 2026 F1 grid.
Late last year Audi announced a partnership with the Swiss Sauber team (currently racing under the Alfa Romeo banner) and a tie-up between Porsche and Red Bull had been in the works, though that was scrapped ahead of the Ford deal.
More pertinent to Ford perhaps was the news in early January that Cadillac, a brand under the umbrella of Ford’s rival, General Motors, intends to partner with the American team Andretti Autosport to enter F1 from 2026, again to capitalise on the surging interest in the sport in the United States.
Although the Andretti-Cadillac entry isn’t yet thought to be a done deal, judging by announcements from both F1 itself and the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, Ford’s place on the grid seems more assured.
“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,” said Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1.
“Ford is a global brand with an incredible heritage in racing and the 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.”
Domenicali’s enthusiasm appeared to be matched by the head of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who sought to underline Ford’s long motorsport heritage, the significance of the 2026 rules changes and the growing American appetite for F1.
“There are few manufacturers who have such a celebrated motor sport history as Ford, so to see them coming back to the FIA Formula 1 world championship is excellent news,” he said.
“It further underlines the success of the 2026 power unit regulations that have at their heart a commitment to both sustainability and spectacle, and of course having more interest from the United States is important for the continued growth of the world’s top motor sport category.”
Although Ford’s partner team for the 2026 season has yet to be confirmed, an announcement is expected within hours. Come back to this page shortly before 3pm for more information.
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Keyword: Ford's return to F1: Forget the rumours, here's the official info from the first of two announcements