Standing in the heart of the Red Bull Racing headquarters in Milton Keynes there was a clear sense that this was the beginning of something huge, as we gathered to watch the global reveal of the 2026 Formula 1 liveries for both Oracle Red Bull Racing and the Visa CashApp Racing Bulls.
I was joined by 30 of our colleagues — winners of a competition that saw hundreds apply — all of us eager to witness the next chapter of the Blue Oval’s legacy. While the main stage was in Detroit, being here at the technical hub made it clear that Ford isn’t just returning to the grid as a sponsor, we are returning as a technical powerhouse.
In Formula 1, speed isn’t just about the lap time; it’s about the rate of development. One of our most immediate contributions to Red Bull Ford Powertrains has been in advanced manufacturing, specifically 3D printing. We’ve managed to slash the prototype manufacturing window from 16 days down to just five. When you can refine a design more quickly than your rivals, you aren't just engineering — you’re hunting the competition.
The technical challenge is significant because we are fighting a decades-long experience gap against established manufacturers. To bridge that divide, our simulation engineers like Kevin Ruybal have developed a unique model that runs a staggering 1,000 times faster than real time. This digital intelligence allows our drivers to feel the engine’s behaviour in the simulator and provide feedback before the physical hardware even exists. It is this marriage of Ford’s 125-year winning culture and Red Bull’s relentless agility that is allowing us to support the build of a power unit from the ground up.
Our collaboration extends deep into the "brain" of the car — the battery energy usage. Engineers like Sam Angeli and Mike Huang are working side-by-side with Red Bull teams to solve the puzzle of how to deploy electric power in conjunction with combustion power.
Mike has developed a sophisticated tool using dynamic programming that acts as a real-time strategist, advising the system exactly when to dump or save energy to find the fastest way around the track. This isn't just about winning races; the heat management and state-of-charge strategies we refine here are the same building blocks that will help future electric Fords charge faster and perform even better.
The tour of the Milton Keynes facility offered us a rare glimpse into this high-stakes world, including access to the race control room. I was fascinated to witness the aerospace-level precision required to manage a Grand Prix.
Between the technical discussions, we learned about the staggering complexity of the sport, from the physical intensity of a wheel change to the incredible cost of Max Verstappen’s steering wheel, which functions more like a high-performance supercomputer than a simple directional tool.
We were even given the chance to test our own mettle in a pit-stop challenge. It was a humbling experience that proved just how hard it is to change a wheel under pressure. I watched as Ford Vice President Jim Baumbick joined the winning group, managing to change four wheels in a credible 4.5 seconds.
While we were proud of that time, it was a stark reminder of the elite level of F1, where the pros are still three seconds faster. These moments of hands-on competition, along with reaction tests on Batak boards and simulator laps around Abu Dhabi, brought the reality of the sport to life for all of us.
Later in the evening, I sat in on a fireside chat with Jim Baumbick, Karun Chandhok, Ben Hodgkinson, and Kevin Ruybal. They spoke about the expectations for the forthcoming season and the synergy required to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport. Walking through the trophy room afterward was a stunning testimony to Red Bull’s success, with more than 300 trophies marking their 10 Constructors’ and 10 Drivers’ Championships. It served as a powerful reminder of the standard we are expected to meet as we integrate our engineering teams across Michigan and Milton Keynes.
The road to March 2026 is a massive undertaking, but seeing our embedded engineers working seamlessly within the Red Bull environment proves what is possible when two world-class teams unite. We are using the world’s most innovative laboratory to ensure that both our racing drivers and our commercial customers get the innovation they deserve. F1 is the ultimate proving ground, and as we look toward the future, the Blue Oval and Red Bull Ford Powertrains are ready to meet the challenge head-on.
Charlie Bristow is Vehicles Topic Producer for Ford in Europe
