F1 News: Ford CEO Sets High 2026 Target After Meeting Red Bull's Adrian Newey

Jim Farley is confident that Red Bull will be on top of the podium in 2026.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has conveyed his optimism, indicating that Red Bull will clinch the top spot on the podium following discussions with the team's Chief Technology Officer and aerodynamics expert, Adrian Newey. 

As Formula 1 embarks on a new regulatory era in 2026, it signals the conclusion of Red Bull's collaboration with its current engine provider, Honda. Simultaneously, it heralds the commencement of a fresh chapter for the team's in-house engine unit, Red Bull Powertrains, as they join forces with Ford to deliver engines combining electric power and internal combustion in equal measure.

Red Bull Press Image

As seen in the past, a new era of regulations in a sport like F1 can turn the tables in the championship standings, after all, it depends on how well the teams adapt to changes. For example, Mercedes dominated the sport, winning the Drivers' Championship from 2014 to 2020, and the Constructors' Championships from 2014 to 2021, just a few months before the ground effect era came into effect.

Since the end of 2021, Red Bull took over the championship reins from Mercedes, with driver Max Verstappen winning all three Drivers' Championship titles in a row. The dominance reached a new high last year when the Milton Keynes outfit won 21 out of the 22 Grands Prix. 

Going forward, when the new era comes into effect in two years, Farley is confident and optimistic about Red Bull continuing to dominate the F1 grid, considering the work that has been going on behind the Ford- Red Bull power unit. Expressing his views during the 2024 Ford Season Launch Event, he said:

“I had a chance to spend a lot of time with the team in Milton Keynes and with Adrian Newey. 

“Even though [2026] sounds like a long way away, we have a lot of work to do on the powertrain, but I’m really happy with the progress. I wish I could tell you more, but I would say we’re on track.

“We’ve got the best drivers, we’ve got the best technical support. We have the best of Ford and around the globe to support them. But the team, the powertrain team that they’re building in Milton Keynes, is absolutely top notch.

"We are going first class to the very top of the podium.”