Ford CEO Jim Farley talks about the pressure of the Formula 1 comeback with Red Bull and explains why he wants to take on the challenge over many years.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressly welcomed the pressure created by the collaboration with Red Bull in the new Red Bull engine project. The Milton Keynes-based team will part ways with Honda at the end of the current Formula 1 season and will use its own powertrains from 2026 onwards – in partnership with Ford.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Farley emphasizes that he and the company know what they are getting into with their comeback to the premier class: “Well, I think we not only fully understand what we are getting into to support Laurent [Mekies] and the team, but we also know the history of our company and our contribution to Formula 1. And I understand that personally, too.“
”So yes. And I think it won’t just be the first race. It will be many years,“ Farley continued. ”The pressure we will feel every day, every week, as we work closely together. We know that’s coming.”
Mekies satisfied with cooperation
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies also spoke about the growing cooperation between the two parties: “With each passing day, we are working more closely together. The brainstorming is becoming more intense. We are trying to find new areas where we can develop together, where we can push each other.”
“That’s exactly what we need given the scale of the challenge. And I’m sure, as Jim said, it’s not just about what separates us from now until the first test. Even after that, we will continue to grow together and push each other. And I’m sure the collaboration will get stronger and stronger.”
Ford had previously developed the legendary DFV engine with Cosworth, which enjoyed enormous success between 1967 and 1983: 155 Grand Prix victories, 13 drivers’ and ten constructors’ world championship titles can be attributed to the Ford-Cosworth partnership.
Ford wants to win
When asked whether it was too much to ask to fight for victories in the first year, Farley explained: “Well, it’s not our first rodeo. We’ve been in Formula 1 for a while, and I think that’s a good thing. As Laurent said, we are a very humble company. We’re a modest company anyway, but these are the best engineers in the world of motorsport.“
”And all I can say is: we’ve done our best so far. I just want to emphasize what he said – it’s not just about the first one or two races. It will be about how quickly we respond to what we learn about the chassis, about everything.”
“And we understand that at Ford,” Farley emphasizes. “We have our best engineers. We have 180,000 employees. They all know that this is a top project in the company. And we’re going to throw everything we’ve got into this.”