Formula 1 News: More Red Bull Ford Powertrains imagery

Red Bull Ford Powertrains and Oracle Red Bull Racing launched the 2026 Formula One campaign with an action-packed Red Bull show in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday night and a very special surprise.

The Oracle Red Bull Racing logo is projected onto the venue during the Red Bull Racing season launch at Michigan Central Station on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images //

It was a significant moment on the journey from Red Bull deciding to build its own powerunit in 2021 to being weeks away from running on track in the 2026 World Championship. The official launch of Red Bull Ford Powertrains inaugural powerunit came with a new announcement, as RBFPT Technical Director Ben Hodgkinson joined on a live link from HQ in Milton Keynes, to reveal that the PU would be named DM01, after the late Dietrich Mateschitz, who spearheaded Red Bull’s decision to become an engine manufacturer.

Pierre Wache, Technical Director of Oracle Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar of France and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Oliver Mintzlaff, Managing director of Red Bull GmbH, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, Alisha Palmowski, F1 Academy driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Phillip Prew, Technical Operations Director unveil their livery on stage during the Red Bull Racing season launch at Michigan Central Station on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images //

The founder of Red Bull was the driving force behind the decision to enter Formula One in 2005 and when the rare opportunity to take full control of the Team’s powerunit future arose, he once again made the call to do something many viewed as potentially impossible, and with that Red Bull Powertrains was established. Embodying the brand’s pioneering and rebellious spirit, it was, and is, a decisive commitment to build Red Bull’s very own powerunit, with new engine regulations coming into the sport in 2026. It was a bold step that has allowed Oracle Red Bull Racing to design a power unit specifically for a Red Bull chassis. The first RBFPT powerunit will now honor Dietrich’s legacy, powering the RB22 on track, bringing the Red Bull energy to countries all over the world.

Ford joined in 2023 as a technical partner to create Red Bull Ford Powertrains and bring on board over 120 years of technical expertise and history in motorsport. Now a Team Partner, the iconic American brand provide crucial technologies and support to Red Bull Ford Powertrains manufacturing, development, and engineering.

Ahead of a season when Ford will renter Formula One, after 22 years away, Red Bull joined forces with Ford Racing to launch the 2026 season in Detroit, the birthplace of Ford and the historic home of car building in the USA. The action-packed show was hosted at the refurbished Michigan Central Station, which was extensively renovated by Ford Motor Company over six years. The decision to preserve the iconic building, after it was left abandoned, was another move to represent the Blue Oval’s continued commitment to the City of Detroit. With Red Bull visiting Ford’s hometown, the show featured an augmented reality deep dive into the powerunit, stunts from Red Bull athletes and, crucially, the first look at Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2026 livery – which takes inspiration from the beginnings of Red Bull Racing’s visual presence in the sport and features the famous Ford blue.

Nicole Briscoe presents on stage during the Red Bull Racing season launch at Michigan Central Station on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images //

Speaking after the live show in Detroit, Laurent Mekies, CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “It was incredible to reveal the livery here in Detroit, in Ford’s home. The car looks stunning, we wanted to give it a special touch with the gloss for this new chapter. and we hope the fans enjoy it. The Team have done an incredible job, to be here today and to be in the position to go to Barcelona Shakedown with our own car and our own power unit for the first time ever. This is the result of the efforts of 2000 people at the Red Bull Technology Campus, the most talented group that you can find and they have been working together to get us to this moment. It is the beginning of an extremely exciting journey for all of us and we will take to the track as one – one Red Bull chassis and powerunit.”

Isack Hadjar of France and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing unveil their 2026 livery≈ during the Red Bull Racing season launch at Michigan Central Station on January 15, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images //

Ben Hodgkinson, Technical Director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, said: “To get to this moment where we can finally launch the first-ever Red Bull Ford Powertrain means a lot to myself, and the several hundred people that have poured their passion into this project with hours and hours of hard graft. The scale of this mission has been truly mind-blowing. Right from the very start, every element of this project has started from scratch; the facilities, the people, the designing, the building and finally the assembling. We started with Dietrich’s dream, and the people here in Milton Keynes made it a reality. It is a surreal feeling to see it launched in Detroit with Ford, but a truly rewarding moment for all of us.”

Oliver Mintzlaff, CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments of Red Bull, said: “This is a new chapter for us. Building our own engine and bringing it to life on track is a remarkable step for our brand. We’re optimistic and truly excited to go live with our car and our power unit. There will be significant regulatory changes in 2026. Yes, the power unit is a major part of that, but there are many other elements as well. We took a similar risk when we entered Formula One back in 2005, and that mindset hasn’t changed.”

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, said: “When we first crossed paths with Oracle Red Bull Racing four years ago, we felt that the Red Bull swagger matched our spirit. Four years later, tonight marked a checkpoint where we can celebrate the work put into this incredible project. An energy drinks company building their own Formula One power unit is a remarkable story, and Ford are privileged to have been on this journey with them. We’re so proud to launch here in Detroit where we’ve been able to celebrate our motorsports heritage in a place that has seen the American automotive story get to where it is today.”