OVAL RACING

One of the most successful engine makers in history returns to the grid in 2026... here's why Ford in F1 matters

- JASON BARLOW

It's -10°C outside but warming up nicely in here. Red Bull Racing is based in Milton Keynes but in launching its 2023 Formula One contender in Manhattan, several important things are at play. Firstly, Fl is now officially a big deal in North America. There will be three races in 2023: in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas. All those years that former supremo and walking controversy magnet Bernie Ecclestone tried and failed to crack the world's biggest sports market, turns out all he needed was a global streaming platform and a clever TV show. Secondly, Ford is back in F1, and will today announce a technical partnership with the reigning world champions, to commence when the new rules and regulations come into force in 2026. Did anyone see that coming?

It's difficult to remember a time before Netflix's Drive to Survive, and it's tempting to assume that the new generation of fans isn't bothered by whose name is on the side of a car. But anyone who knows their history will be acutely aware of the legacy Ford has in top tier motorsport. The stats are impressive in isolation but only tell a fragment of the story: between 1967 and 1983, Ford DFV-powered cars scored 155 Grands Prix wins, propelled 12 drivers to championship titles, and racked up 10 constructors' championships. This makes the Blue Oval the third most successful engine constructor in F1 history, with only Mercedes and Ferrari ahead. Not bad given that it's been absent for 20 years.