Ford have a rich history in Formula 1, first becoming involved in the sport back in 1963 and sponsoring the Cosworth engine suppliers from 1966 to 2004.
Since withdrawing from any Formula 1 activities at the end of 2004, Cosworth continued to supply engines for teams in Formula 1 without the backing of the car manufacturing giants.
It has now been rumoured that after nearly two decades away from F1, Ford could make a return to the sport by becoming involved in Red Bull, who will most likely be parting ways from Honda in 2026 when the team become an independent engine supplier.
While Ford would not return to the sport in any technical capacity, it is most likely that they would become a major sponsor for Red Bull, in a similar way to which Honda continue to be involved with Red Bull at the moment despite the team creating ‘Red Bull Powertrains’.
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While it has been expected that Ford would be quick to shut down the rumours of their potential return to F1, they have not done so, simply releasing a statement which says: “We do not comment on speculative stories.”
While it still seems a longshot that Ford could become heavily involved in Formula 1 again in the coming years, one car manufacturing giant that will be entering the sport is Audi, who are set to complete a full takeover of Sauber, currently known as Alfa Romeo, in 2026.
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2026 is the ideal year for new entries to Formula 1 due to the major changes in engine regulations, meaning that every team starts from square one and new entrants do not start on the back foot.
While Honda will be parting ways with Red Bull upon the expiration of their contract, it seems unlikely that the brand will leave F1 altogether, such is their passion for their involvement in the sport.
Since the passing of Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz is has been suggested that AlphaTauri could become an available asset for anyone looking to invest in Formula 1, and with that in mind, it is rumoured that Honda could look to purchase Red Bull’s sister team ahead of the 2026 season.