Red Bull Powertrains, the Formula 1 power unit manufacturing company owned by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, will be known as Ford from starting from the 2026 championship. However, contradictory to recent reports, it seems that they will not receive a rookie status by the governing body and will therefore not be able to benefit from all the advantages of a new power unit manufacturer.
According to Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Scuderia Ferrari strongly objected to the status and following a long battle, the Maranello team was reportedly successful in doing so.
Ferrari president John Elkann and chief executive officer Benedetto Vigna reportedly did not agree with the newcomer status which the Austrian side wanted following its plan to begin producing its own power units from 2026. On this matter, it seems that the FIA has decided not to grant that status to Red Bull Ford’s entry.
‘Ferrari blocks newcomer status Red Bull Ford’
The reason is clear and has been pointed out by the Maranello team several times during the previous Formula 1 championship: Red Bull Powertrains would already have too much knowledge about power unit, despite the fact that on paper it is a new department within the team. For example, La Gazzetta dello Sport indicated ex- Mercedes chief Ben Hodgkinson, who is currently Technical Director at Red Bull Powertrains and joined Red Bull’s newly created engine department in 2021, as well as a number of other engine experts.
Not only this: Red Bull’s collaboration with Honda in terms of power unit information and knowledge means the Austrian side should be put on the same level as Ferrari and Mercedes when it comes to engine expertise.
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Mercedes, Renault and Audi did eventually back Ferrari, who was the most vocal in expressing its disapproval and objected from the very start to Red Bull receiving a newcomer status. As pointed out by Ferrari, the only real newcomer is Audi and the corresponding status would belong to the German manufacturer.
Ferrari put pressure on FIA
The status of newcomer gives the power unit suppliers the possibility to use much more resources in terms of development and also use more test hours in producing the first powerplant for the 2026 Formula 1 championship. Ford would have benefited from this status had it decided to join F1 independently as a power unit supplier, starting from scratch. However, its deal with Red Bull means the United States company will not receive the special status either.
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