Ford Global Director Mark Rushbrook has poured cold water on suggestions that its Formula 1 power unit collaboration with Red Bull will yield immediate results.
Red Bull will run its own power unit in collaboration with Ford in 2026, after six years of running Honda power, marking a sea change for the company.
Ford is assisting Red Bull with the electric elements of the power unit, specialising in the battery cells and electric motor, while adding its expertise to the internal combustion engine.
The alliance with the American car giant is rumoured to have unlocked performance from the ongoing debate on engine compression ratios, Red Bull supposedly finding an advantage.
With pre-season testing only weeks away, the spotlight is falling onto Ford, following Audi’s shakedown of its engine at Barcelona last week.
“When we arrived, we said that Ford wanted to focus on the electric side,” Rushbrook said to Marca about Ford’s preparations.
“And that’s where we’ve put our main focus.
“But beyond that, we’ve been able to contribute our expertise in controls and calibration to combine the combustion engine with electrification.
“We can manufacture components at our facility, some also for the combustion engine.
“Management is in Milton Keynes, but we’ve made available all the resources we can contribute.”
Caution from Ford in face of rumours
Rusbrook is dubious, however, that any pace advantage found would result in a significant pace advantage over Ferrari, Audi, Honda and Mercedes’ power unit offerings.
“We’ll see,” he responded when questioned on the subject.
“There are so many pieces needed for success.
“A great car, a great engine that performs well both thermally and electrically, reliability, calibration… having an advantage in one area doesn’t mean you have an advantage in everything.
“There are many opportunities, and you have to make the whole engine work together.”
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