Red Bull has made a new enemy in the F1 paddock as Ford and Cadillac engage in a heated verbal scuffle. The dispute began when Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac’s F1 operation, claimed that Ford’s partnership with Red Bull is merely a marketing exercise with minimal impact. Ford executives quickly fired back, pointing out that Cadillac will be using a Ferrari engine, whereas Ford is contributing to Red Bull’s in-house power unit project.
Ford’s executive chairman, Bill Ford, dismissed Cadillac’s claims as “patently absurd,” stating that their partnership with Red Bull is a true technical collaboration. He emphasized that Ford engineers are working directly with Red Bull Powertrains in Milton Keynes, contributing to the development of the 2026-spec power units. Will Ford, general manager of Ford Performance, also pushed back, saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth, in terms of our partnership with Red Bull being a marketing effort”.
The exchange highlights the growing rivalry between American automotive giants Ford and Cadillac in F1. Cadillac, backed by General Motors, is entering F1 as the 11th team, while Ford is re-entering the sport through its technical partnership with Red Bull. The verbal sparring match showcases the competitive nature of F1 and the desire to showcase technological prowess.
As the 2026 F1 season approaches, this rivalry is expected to intensify. Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, cautioned that the team’s new Ford-supported engine project will face challenges, but remains optimistic about their long-term prospects. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s Towriss emphasized that GM is deeply embedded in the project, with significant engineering input.
The F1 world is abuzz with the news, and it will be interesting to see how this rivalry plays out on the track. Will Ford’s partnership with Red Bull prove to be a winning formula, or will Cadillac’s full-team entry give them the edge they need?
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