How Ford executives privately feel about their Formula 1 entry after Red Bull fired Christian Horner

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Christian Horner was a key factor in Ford pursuing a partnership with Red Bull, but how have things progressed following his exit from the team in July?

Red Bull sacked Horner without a reason and appointed Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies to take the reins at the team, thus becoming the first team principal other than Horner to lead the Austrian constructor in their 20-year history.

One of the reasons that was speculated for the sudden departure was Horner’s demand for total power over the operations of the F1 team. Horner vetoed a possible deal with Porsche last season, opting to strike a deal with Ford instead.

Otmar Szafnauer criticised the partnership, warning Red Bull about the conventional processes of Ford and how they might align with what direction the team wants to go in the future.

READ MORE: All to know on sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner with net worth

Ford is still ‘keen’ about F1 entry despite Christian Horner ‘kerfuffle’

In the latest edition of his Green Notebook, F1 journalist Joe Saward has revealed what he has heard regarding Ford’s entry to F1 in a long-term technical partnership with Red Bull Powertrains. They are currently working together to build the engine that will power Red Bull’s F1 car in 2026 and beyond.

Ford leapt at Red Bull after the deal with Porsche fell through. Representatives at the US-based car manufacturer contacted Horner directly after they’d heard the news, which carved the route for them to enter into such a partnership.

Following Horner’s departure from Red Bull at the start of July, Saward has been told that the company is still ‘more and more keen’ on F1, despite the ‘kerfuffle’ regarding the CEO’s exit.

He noted that Ford’s chairman, Bill Ford, dropped into Milton Keynes following the team principal’s dismissal to see how things are progressing with the team.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Hyundai and Toyota are showing interest in a potential F1 project

Saward also revealed a couple of names that he has heard being thrown around ‘a lot’, referring to Hyundai and Toyota.

Toyota used to be a team on the grid in the 2000s before the worldwide financial crisis made it difficult for them to continue. They ended up famously selling the team for a single pound to Ross Brawn, who then sold it to Mercedes after a fairy tale season in 2009.

Toyota entered into a technical alliance with Haas in 2024, giving the Japanese manufacturer a veto right on Haas’s future driver selections as well as a hand in helping the F1 team with better testing infrastructure.

Hyundai’s efforts could be helped by the man who leads their motorsport division, Cyril Abiteboul. The Frenchman previously led Renault’s resurgence in F1 during the late 2010s, departing before their rebrand to Alpine as we know it today.

Saward noted that Abiteboul’s experience with ‘politics’ in F1 makes him the perfect candidate to lead the team if they do want to pursue a venture in the sport, but also highlighted that Horner will soon be on the market and he ‘will’ be looking for partners.