Red Bull, Racing Bulls Set for Joint 2026 F1 Launch with Ford in Detroit

Posted : 12 November 2025

Red Bull’s two Formula One outfits, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls will hold a joint car launch in Detroit next January to celebrate the beginning of their new engine partnership with Ford, the teams announced on Tuesday.

The highly anticipated event is scheduled for January 15, 2026, marking the official debut of Red Bull Ford Powertrains as an engine manufacturer. This announcement makes Red Bull the first Formula One team to confirm a launch date for the upcoming season. Formula One’s first closed pre-season test is set to take place later that month, from January 26 to 30, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

The 2025 season still has three rounds remaining, with the finale taking place in Abu Dhabi on December 7, but anticipation is already building for the sport’s next generation of power units. Red Bull, winners of the last four consecutive Drivers’ Championships with Max Verstappen, are looking to extend their dominance into the new era.

Both Red Bull teams currently use Honda engines, but the Japanese manufacturer will switch to an exclusive partnership with Aston Martin from 2026. The Detroit launch will therefore symbolize a major milestone in Red Bull’s evolution, as the team transitions to Ford’s power units.

Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies described the event as “a bold step into the future,” reflecting years of technical collaboration between Red Bull and Ford. Ford CEO Jim Farley echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the partnership beyond racing.

“Since we announced our return to Formula One with Red Bull, our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for 2026,” Farley said. “This partnership is about more than competition—it’s about innovation. What we learn together in Formula One will help us improve the cars and trucks our customers drive every day.”

Ford will face competition from another American brand next season, as General Motors enters the grid with a new Cadillac-backed team, while Ferrari-powered Haas continues to represent the United States on the F1 circuit.

Earlier this year, all ten teams participated in a joint livery presentation at London’s O2 Arena to celebrate Formula One’s 75th anniversary. In 2023, Red Bull and its sister team—then known as AlphaTauri—held their individual car launches in New York.

With three Grands Prix now held in the United States and growing sponsor involvement, the Detroit event underscores Formula One’s continued expansion in the American market under Liberty Media’s ownership.

Red Bull, Racing Bulls Set for Joint 2026 F1 Launch with Ford in Detroit

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