Why Ford settled on Crimson Bull F1 deal – ‘We even checked out shopping for our personal group’

The story of Ford’s return to Method 1, from Crimson Bull’s viewpoint, is well-known by now.

The Milton Keynes-based group held prolonged talks with Porsche to develop a works engine for the all-new 2026 energy unit rules, however these in the end collapsed. The German sports activities automobile model was eager on changing into an equal companion, together with shares, however Crimson Bull feared dropping management. And given the involvement of the Volkswagen Group – and its myriad layers of governance – Crimson Bull was additionally cautious of dropping its agile resolution making.

Ford noticed the breakdown of Crimson Bull’s negotiations with Porsche with eager curiosity and instantly noticed a chance. “It turned very clear that, at the very least from what we noticed from the surface, that it was not going to work for Crimson Bull with Porsche”, Ford Motorsports director Mark Rushbrook advised Motorsport.com. “I actually received Christian Horner’s electronic mail tackle, despatched him an electronic mail and stated ‘Hello, do you wish to discuss?’”

It led to the primary conversations, about which Horner shared an amusing anecdote: “We went to a gathering at Dearborn on the way in which to Brazil, and met with your self, Invoice Ford and Jim [Farley]. I believed we have been in good condition when Jim walked into the assembly with a Sergio Perez cap! I believed ‘Okay, we’re wanting fairly good right here!’ You possibly can simply really feel that there was an actual enthusiasm from the very prime of the corporate, from Invoice Ford, who was so smitten by coming again to Method 1, and Jim, who’s a racer himself.”

Issues began shifting rapidly, though the query stays why Ford particularly selected Crimson Bull for its new chapter in Method 1. Ford has a wealthy historical past within the collection, together with the once-omnipresent Cosworth DFV engines, though it had been absent since late 2004 when it bought the Jaguar group to none apart from Crimson Bull.

The rising recognition of the game and the 2026 rules each performed their half swaying opinions on the Michigan headquarters. “In the event you would have requested me 5 years in the past, and really folks did ask me, ‘Is Ford going to get again into Method 1?’ then my reply was no. On the time we didn’t assume that F1 was the precise place for us, however actually issues have modified afterwards”, Rushbrook stated.

“In the event you see how the rules are written down for 2026 with the rise of the electrification, with the gasoline adjustments and with the dedication to be net-zero by 2030, that aligns with plenty of our values and what’s necessary for us. The expansion of the game performs a job as nicely. We go racing for innovation and for tech switch, so transferring know-how from the racetrack to the highway and, if doable, the opposite approach round as nicely. We additionally wish to go racing for the power to inform the story of our firm, our folks and our merchandise. Three years in the past, it turned clear that issues have been altering and that we would have liked to take a severe take a look at Method 1 once more. And right here we’re.”

Ford thought of shopping for its personal group

However between the ambition of returning to F1 and really signing a deal, there’s nonetheless the step of weighing up all of the choices. Rushbrook revealed that Ford additionally checked out different choices as soon as it was clear that the corporate needed to return to F1, together with the potential for shopping for an present group.

“Earlier than we had this cope with Crimson Bull, there have been plenty of discussions occurring,” he defined. “Some Method 1 groups approached us, and we approached some groups as nicely. We would have liked to grasp the panorama and the other ways to get into the game.

“We even checked out ‘Okay, ought to we purchase a group ourselves?’ I believe we demonstrated by what this group has turn out to be, what was Jackie Stewart Racing and Jaguar, that this isn’t our core competency, proper? Sure, we’re in motorsports, however nowhere will we personal or run a group. We at all times go together with companions, whether or not it is Dick Johnson racing in Australia, Penske in NASCAR, Bob Tasca in NHRA or M-Sport in rally.

“You’ll be able to go and do your individual energy unit solely by your self or you might are available as only a buyer energy unit, however then Ford doesn’t have something invested right into a group itself. As quickly as we noticed this as a chance, it turned clear in a short time that it was the precise option to go. This chance permits us to companion with what we imagine is one of the best group within the collection. We’re complementary, and for us that’s the proper option to do it.”

What’s Ford truly contributing?

The massive query in these early conversations was what Ford might truly deliver to the Crimson Bull programme apart from a badge and its chequebook, and the way the facility unit programme could be run between the 2 companions, with work already nicely below approach on the group’s in-house Crimson Bull Powertrains division.

My first query to Christian was ‘What are you searching for in a companion?’ and I used to be ready to say what we have been searching for in a companion. Within the first 20 minutes of that dialogue there was a really broad alignment,” Rushbrook recalled. “In that first assembly we additionally outlined the areas the place Crimson Bull Racing wanted assist with the facility unit and with the racing group, and the areas the place we needed to contribute and be taught. That course of continues at this time, though the checklist is longer at this time than throughout these preliminary discussions.”

After the primary assembly, the thought was that Ford would primarily assist with {the electrical} components of the 2026 engine, though Rushbrook emphasizes that extra is occurring behind the scenes. “Additive manufacturing is an effective instance of that. We have now good sources and supplies for it. That wasn’t on the preliminary checklist, however it’s occurring now. The identical goes for contributing to the inner combustion engine and the turbo. These issues weren’t on the preliminary checklist both, however there’s plenty of data that now we have with modelling and testing that may assist Crimson Bull.”

In keeping with Rushbrook, it underlines that Ford is not simply in it for the advertising and marketing publicity but additionally for the aforementioned tech switch to its highway vehicles. “Our important focus is on the electrification, the battery cell chemistry, the battery pack, the motor, the inverter, but additionally within the controls and the software program. That could be a large alternative for us.”

It is a approach of working that’s utterly totally different in comparison with what Crimson Bull initially mentioned with Porsche, Horner identified. “From the outset Mark and Jim Farley stated ‘You guys do Method 1 every single day. That is your bread and butter. We’re not going to impose our methodology on you. You inform us, how can we assist? The place can we help?’ It was very a lot an open ebook. It seems like a partnership that you just’re not imposing on the engineers, which typically occurs in these relationships, and what we have been terrified of within the different choice we have been taking a look at.”

The spirit of Mateschitz: ‘No danger, no enjoyable’

How aggressive the top product of that collaboration might be in 2026 remains to be unknown, though Horner admitted that he was below no phantasm that the primary 12 months might be plain crusing. However he additionally sees a bonus for Ford, because the model won’t get publicly judged too harshly as a result of within the present set-up it does not have full duty over the engine. “It is a bit like being grandparents”, Horner joked. “You get all the advantages of the child and all of the upsides, however then you definately give it again to the dad and mom and you do not have the sleepless nights and also you don’t have to vary the nappies, so there’s a form of analogy there.

“For us it is simply thrilling to have the Blue Oval again in Method 1. After all, there’s danger related to what we’re doing. Taking over and doing what we’re doing is insane by way of the funding and producing our personal engine, however as Dietrich Mateschitz at all times advised us: ‘No danger, no enjoyable’. That applies to this undertaking, and it is one thing we could not have completed and not using a like-minded companion.”