Ford and Red Bull working on ground-breaking EV
Unlikely Red Bull follow-up to Valkyrie hypercar could be the faster all-electric Ford F-150Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing in 2026 will be expanded to include a technical partnership that will see both companies work together to jointly-develop electric vehicles, it has been revealed.
The Blue Oval brand’s global boss has confirmed that Ford and Red Bull will co-develop what’s being described as a “strategically important EV”.
Admitting the two are working on road cars in a project that will kick-off as soon as this year, Ford CEO Jim Farley told respected US publication MotorTrend:
“I was in a recent review with probably our most strategically important EV, and I turned to my skunkworks team that are developing this in secret and I asked ‘Hey, who’s doing the aero on this?’ and he turns to me and says ‘Oh, they’re from Red Bull. Formula 1’.”
Frustratingly, Farley wouldn’t reveal which model he was referring to, but some have linked the recently-teased Ford Performance version of the battery-powered Ford F-150 Lightning as the vehicle that Red Bull’s team of F1 designers and engineers might be working on.
If so, the all-electric full-size pick-up truck will be an unlikely follow-up to the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which was designed and engineered by the Red Bull F1 team’s chief technical designer, Adrian Newey.
There's also no word on whether the strategically important EV will be the first in a series of road vehicles co-developed by Ford and Red Bull.
However, as part of their new relationship, Ford has said it will share its technical knowhow when it comes to combustion engines, battery cells, electric motor technology and EV software and analytics to ensure both companies fully exploit the 2026 F1 regulations to build the most powerful and efficient power unit possible.
Separately, Red Bull is working on its own limited-edition track-only hypercar, dubbed the RB17 and due for release in 2025.
Related: Supercar-quick Ford F-150 Lightning teased
Related: MOTORSPORT: Ford returns to F1 with Red Bull
Related: Full details: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning launched
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