Reliving Ford’s F1 Rollercoaster
Six Decades of Glory, Turbulence and Reinvention in Formula 1
History in Formula 1 rarely moves in straight lines.
Few brands embody that better than Ford Motor Company. From powering one of the most dominant engines in F1 history to selling its own team for £1, Ford’s journey has been one of extreme highs and painful lows.
And now, in 2026, the Blue Oval returns — partnering with Red Bull Racing — a team that itself rose from the ashes of Ford’s greatest misstep.
Let’s rewind the story.
The Cosworth DFV Era
How Ford Democratised Formula 1
Ford’s true F1 revolution began in 1967 with the Lotus 49, powered by the Ford-Cosworth DFV V8.
Developed by Cosworth with Ford funding, the DFV was groundbreaking:
- Lightweight
- Structurally integrated into the chassis
- Powerful and reliable
- Affordable to customer teams
The result? A seismic shift in F1.
Until Ferrari broke the streak in 1975, Ford-Cosworth engines powered every drivers’ and constructors’ champion. Over time, the DFV would deliver:
- 174 Grand Prix victories
- 12 Drivers’ Championships
- 10 Constructors’ Championships
Champions powered by Ford included:
- Graham Hill
- Jackie Stewart
- Emerson Fittipaldi
- James Hunt
- Mario Andretti
- Nelson Piquet
- Keke Rosberg
Ford didn’t just compete — it democratised F1. If you had a chassis and a DFV, you could challenge the establishment.
The Turbo Disruption
When the V8 Lost Its Throne
The 1980s turbo era changed everything.
Cosworth, led by Keith Duckworth, was skeptical of turbocharging and arrived late to the arms race. While rivals embraced high-boost qualifying engines, Ford remained conservative.
By the mid-1980s:
- Turbo engines dominated
- Power outputs exploded
- Development costs soared
Ford attempted a comeback with bespoke V6 turbos, but reliability and philosophy clashes limited success.
When turbos were banned in 1989, Ford pivoted again — launching the HB V8.
The 1990s Resurgence
Schumacher, Senna and the Zetec-R
The Ford HB and later Zetec-R engines restored competitiveness.
Key highlights:
- Ayrton Senna’s 1993 wins with McLaren
- Michael Schumacher’s 1994 World Championship with Benetton
- Jordan’s famous 1991 debut for Schumacher
Ford engines were lighter and more agile than rivals — often lacking peak horsepower but compensating with chassis balance.
But corporate ambition would soon complicate matters.
Jaguar Racing: The £1 Collapse
When Corporate Politics Destroyed Performance
In 2000, Ford bought Stewart Grand Prix and rebranded it as Jaguar Racing.
The vision:
Use F1 to elevate Jaguar’s luxury image under Ford’s Premier Automotive Group.
The reality:
- Internal political battles
- Executive turnover
- Massive spending
- Underwhelming results
Despite heavy investment — including high-profile driver Eddie Irvine — Jaguar never achieved sustained success.
By 2004:
- Ford was losing approximately $50 million annually
- The project had become a boardroom embarrassment
- The team was sold to Red Bull for £1
That sale would become one of the most consequential deals in F1 history.
The Red Bull Revival
From Ford’s Nadir to F1 Dominance
The team Ford sold for £1 evolved into one of Formula 1’s modern powerhouses.
Under Red Bull ownership:
- Multiple Drivers’ Championships
- Multiple Constructors’ Championships
- State-of-the-art facilities
- In-house power unit development
Now in 2026, Ford returns — this time as a power unit partner to Red Bull.
History echoes.
Why Ford’s 2026 Comeback Matters
A Second Chance in the Hybrid Era
The 2026 regulations emphasize:
- Sustainable fuels
- Hybrid integration
- Electrical energy deployment
- Manufacturer involvement
For Ford, this represents:
- A return to technological relevance
- Alignment with road-car electrification strategy
- Brand positioning in a new performance era
Unlike Jaguar Racing, this partnership is structured as a technical collaboration rather than full ownership.
It’s a smarter re-entry.
Ford’s Legacy in Numbers
- 174 Grand Prix wins
- 13 Drivers’ Championships
- 10 Constructors’ Championships
- Decades of engine supply dominance
Few manufacturers can claim that historical footprint.
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Final Thoughts
The Blue Oval’s Story Is Far From Over
Ford’s Formula 1 story has been dramatic:
- Engineering brilliance
- Corporate overreach
- Public embarrassment
- Reinvention
Now, partnered with Red Bull in 2026, Ford has an opportunity to reconnect with its historic strength — innovation through engineering.
History may not repeat.
But in Formula 1, it certainly echoes.