How Ford is taking inspiration from aerospace to work with Red Bull

Ford has already started part of its work on the partnership with Red Bull, which is due to begin in 2026 with the arrival of the new regulations.

Published 01/02/2025 à 10:23

Gonzalo Forbes

  Comment on this article! 1

How Ford is taking inspiration from aerospace to work with Red Bull

© Red Bull Content Pool

More than two decades after his last appearance, Ford is slowly getting closer to his big comeback in Formula 1. To do this, the Detroit manufacturer has decided to partner with Red Bull as part of a technical partnership, formalized in 2023 and planned for 2026.

The F1 team that bought the intellectual property of the Honda engine when the Japanese manufacturer withdrew at the end of 2021 to develop the 6 V2022 turbo hybrid before the famous engine freeze was looking for technical support. Ford will not develop its powertrain strictly speaking but will bring all its expertise to the Austrians and its Red Bull Powertrains department.

Focus on 2026

While all the engine manufacturers are already working hard for the entry into force of these new engines – simplified with the disappearance of the famous MGU-H (thermal generator engine which recovers energy from the turbocharger) among other things in order to reduce costs – Ford and Red Bull are also working hand in hand with 2026 in their sights.

For its part, the blue oval firm is responsible for producing 3D printed parts using testing methods similar to those used in the aerospace industry. It's not about simple things like nuts and bolts, is keen to point out Christian Hertrich, head of the engine department at Ford Performance Motorsports, whose estimates exceed 1000 parts produced for Red Bull. These are complex metal and polymer parts that are tested to the extreme in order to be able to withstand races that take place on average at 300 km/h. »

This method was chosen because these parts dedicated to motorsport cannot be manufactured by traditional methods. This concerns cold plates for batteries and cooling plates for other elements of the block. Each of them is tested by the team dedicated to 3D printing which will measure some of its limits such as mechanical resistance, hardness and geometric conformity (3D scanning).

Ford's work doesn't stop there, however, as another branch is in charge of X-raying and scanning them. This branch will then create and examine digital models of the components that will then be sent to the metrology laboratory at the manufacturer's product development center.

« We are calling on all Ford teams, in all areas of expertise, to help us with the program., adds Christian Hertrich. The sports branch is not the only one working on this project. It is surprising to see how many different sectors of the company have already been involved. » Proof of Ford's great ambitions, which he does not want to miss out on his return to the big stage.

ALSO READ > Why Red Bull chose Ford for 2026

Gonzalo Forbes

In charge of promotion formulas (F2, F3, FRECA, F4...). Carried by the grace of Franco Colapinto.

Comment on this article! 1

Read also

Comments

1 Comment (s)

V

vincent moyet

02/02/2025 at 10:48 a.m.

So it will not be a new engine but the ex-Honda engine that Ford will ensure the development and compliance with the 2026 regulations. Advantage: they are not starting from scratch; disadvantage: they have to work with what has been designed by others...

To write a comment