After a 22-year absence, Ford will be returning to the premier class of motorsport – Formula 1 – from 2026 with the masterful Red Bull racing team.

The US auto giant has committed to supplying the next generation of hybrid engines for the pinnacle of motorsport for at least five years – from 2026 to “at least” 2030.

In a statement issued by Ford in the US overnight, the company said it would supply engines and hybrid technology to the leading Red Bull Racing F1 team and its second-tier Scuderia AlphaTauri team.

Red Bull Racing have won five Formula 1 Constructors’ Championships – and six Formula 1 Drivers’ Championships – since 2010, the latter including the last two consecutive years in the hands of Dutch driver Max Verstappen.

Ford will provide expertise in areas such as battery cell and electric motor technology, as well as drive unit control software and analytics, the company said.

“This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Ford’s motorsport history that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped found our company,” said Bill Ford, chief executive officer and great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford, in a Media statement.

“Ford returns to the forefront of the sport alongside world champions…Red Bull Racing, bringing Ford’s long heritage of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the most visible stages in the world.”

Although Ford won’t be competing in Formula 1 until 2026, the company says it will start work on the new hybrid technology later this year.

Ford says it will “develop the powerplant that will be part of the new technical regulations, including a 350kW electric motor and a new internal combustion engine that can accept fully sustainable fuels, ready for the 2026 season.”

Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, said in a media statement: “Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company – increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences. ”

Despite Formula 1 being one of the most expensive forms of motorsport on the planet, the company claims the category will be “an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technology and interact with tens of millions of new customers”.

“Ford will provide technical expertise in all areas where it can add value to the championship’s pinnacle team,” said Ford.

“Areas to be researched together lie in the development of combustion engines and key developments such as battery cell and electric motor technology, software for controlling drive units and analytics.”

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said in a statement to the media: “It’s fantastic to welcome Ford back to Formula One through this partnership.

“The ability to benefit from the experience (of a large manufacturer) like Ford gives us a good advantage over the competition.

“You are a manufacturer with a rich automotive history that spans generations. From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna to Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself.

“For us at Red Bull Powertrains, it’s tremendously exciting to begin the next chapter in this dynasty as Red Bull Ford.”

Ford did not disclose how much his return to Formula 1 would cost.

The company claims that by 2026 Ford will be the only manufacturer to compete in racing disciplines from grassroots to Formula 1, including WEC, IMSA, 24 Hours of Le Mans, World Rally Championship, Dakar with Ranger Raptor, Baja 1000 with Ranger Raptor and Bronco as well as NASCAR, NHRA Drag Racing and Australian V8 Supercars with Mustang.