U.S. CUSTOMS DERAILED RED BULL-FORD F1 ENGINE TEST BY SEIZING A TURBOCHARGER

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Red Bull Racing is taking a massive leap into the unknown this season by debuting its first in-house F1 power unit. As part of its new partnership, Ford contributed a significant amount of resources to the engine's development. However, it wasn't entirely smooth sailing for the fledgling program. A race to test a turbocharger before the 2022 summer break was derailed after the component was seized by US Customs and Border Protection. While most F1 teams are based in the United Kingdom, many have alliances that require collaborating across international borders.

For those unfamiliar with F1, the championship's governing body imposes a mandatory summer break to give team personnel a reprieve from the nearly year-round season. Christian Hertrich, Ford Racing's powertrain chief engineer, recounted an astonishing tale to The Drive indirectly caused by this regulatory deadline. Red Bull didn't have the facilities to test the turbo, so the program decided to stuff it into a briefcase and have an engineer hand-deliver it to Ford in Michigan. However, a customs agent decided to seize the component. Hertrich said:

So, I realized I was working in Formula 1 when I was at Customs and Border Patrol at 2 a.m., trying to recover this turbocharger because within 12 hours, we had to pull the plug for the summer shutdown, and after that, we couldn't do any more testing. We had to get data off of this to meet our deadlines. That was my opening experience, and it was legitimately sitting at the airport dealing with Border Patrol."

Crossing borders is as familiar to F1 teams as skirting the rules

Oracle Red Bull Racing / Red Bull Content Pool

Hertrich would note that Ford and Red Bull had yet to establish a proper procedure for moving parts across the Atlantic with the necessary paperwork. The situation is far different four years later. Ocean-spanning partnerships aren't new to Red Bull or F1 as a whole. The team previously partnered with Honda. The Japanese automaker is now paired with Aston Martin. Haas, an American team, splits its operations between Britain and North Carolina. Cadillac is poised to do the same with its stateside base outside of Indianapolis.

Rival F1 teams wish they could seize Red Bull's turbocharger. The new power unit is facing scrutiny over rumors that it could exceed the 16:1 compression ratio limit set by this year's technical regulations. The technical chiefs from every F1 team are set to convene at an FIA meeting next week, where the topic will be discussed. It's feared that Red Bull-Ford-powered cars could have a 13-horsepower advantage on the rest of the field, estimated to be worth four-tenths of a second per lap.

- RYAN ERIK KING

RED BULL UNVEIL THROWBACK F1 LIVERY FOR 2026 SEASON AT DETROIT LAUNCH EVENT

Red Bull has unveiled a throwback blue livery for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season at a launch event in Detroit.

Red Bull has partnered with Ford for the new engine era and unveiled the glossy electric blue look at the company's Detroit base on Thursday night at Michigan Central Station.

As part of F1's new era of regulations, Red Bull is manufacturing their own engine in collaboration with the U.S. car company for the first time since it joined F1 in 2005.

Red Bull and Racing Bulls are the first teams to unveil their liveries for 2026.

Max Verstappen and new teammate Frenchman, Isack Hadjar, who stepped up from Racing Bulls last year, were in attendance.

In a statement, the team said the RB22's livery marks "a return to the gloss finish first seen when the team made its debut back in 2005.

"To acknowledge this bold move, the RB22 will wear a livery inspired by Red Bull's original look in F1. It harks back to a more classic Red Bull Racing presence, sharpening reflections, boosting contrast under the lights and making heritage elements of the new livery feel richer and more premium at speed."

Team principal Laurent Mekies said: "2026 marks the start of a new and significant era for Formula 1 and for Red Bull. We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings. We are in F1 because of the dream of one man, Dietrich Mateschitz, and several years later, he had another dream, to create an engine.

"This livery is designed to celebrate that spirit that we entered the sport with. In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car carries a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery."

Verstappen said everyone is "very excited.

"The colours have," Verstappen added, "changed a little bit. It is much better. I like the shine, blue is my favourite colour. I like the outlines on the Red Bull logo. It is back and much more fresh. It is all still a bit unknown with the engine and the dimension of the car has changed a bit.

"For us drivers, initially it will take a bit of time to adjust and important on test days to get our laps in and optimise as much as possible. It is always better to have an ending like that (2025) and everybody is excited to start a new chapter."

RED BULL

Max Verstappen will use number 3 from 2026 -- the number of his ex-teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull Content Pool

Laurent Mekies said the livery was a "nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings." Red Bull Content Pool

(L-R) Pierre Wache, Technical Director, Isack Hadjar, Max Verstappen, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull GmbH MD, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, Alisha Palmowski, F1 Academy driver and Phillip Prew, Technical Operations Director Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team photo at the joint launch event in Detroit. Joe Gall / Red Bull Content Pool

- ESPN

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Two of racing's biggest rivals are on collision course once more, with the Ford v Ferrari battle for overall Le Mans victory due to resume in 2027 after six decades — and Ford is already talking up the fight

 "So, more good news in the world of sports car racing this week. Ford has sprung a happy splurge of fresh headlines in confirming its return to Le Mans in 2027, in an all-out attack for its first overall win since 1969.

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That’s 10 manufacturers in the top tier if we still count wound-licking Lamborghini, with possibly McLaren still to come. It really is the golden era that keeps on giving.

It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years,” gushed ACO president Pierre Fillon. Woah, hold your (prancing) horses! What about the Group C Ford C100 of 1982? Inconvenient history, given how ill-starred that campaign proved. Details, details… Far better to sweep that one away, while also overlooking the Cosworth DFV-powered victories of 1975 (Mirage) and ’80 (Rondeau) too.

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Ford developed a perfume that smells like gasoline — and yes, it’s real. Named “Mach-Eau,” the fragrance was launched as a playful nod to petrolheads hesitant to switch to electric vehicles.

Surveys revealed many drivers would miss the scent of fuel, so Ford responded with a bold blend that mixes the essence of gasoline with hints of lavender, sandalwood, and even rubber tires. It’s not for sale, but it’s a clever marketing move designed to bridge nostalgia with innovation — making the future of driving smell a little more like the past.

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FORD PROVIDE UPDATE ON ALL-NEW RED BULL F1 ENGINE

© XPBimages
Ford

Ford has shared further insight into the development of Red Bull's F1 power unit for 2026, the team's first season as an engine manufacturer.

Mark Rushbrook, global director at Ford performance, has outlined how the project is going from the American car giant's perspective, which has entered a partnership with the Milton Keynes-based squad to see in the new era of F1 power unit regulations.

With Honda leaving for Aston Martin, Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) is making good on its initial plans to become an OEM (before the Japanese marque reversed its decision to leave the championship), with Ford by its side.

With significant changes to how F1 engines will work from next season, the technical and strategic relationship between Red Bull and Ford is of paramount importance to how the six-time constructors' champions perform next term - and beyond.

"The partnership is actually getting stronger every day, from the first discussions and the moment the contract was signed, although the work had already started before that," Rushbrook told the Dutch branch of Motorsport.com.

"We are contributing in a number of ways. In general, we are on track with our timeline for the ICE [internal combustion engine] and the electrical components.

"There is obviously still a lot of work to do and a lot to prove in terms of durability, but the partnership - the openness, the trust and the contribution from both sides - has been excellent so far. It's everything we hoped for and actually more than we expected."

The original remit of the partnership was for Ford to handle power unit electronics for the team, but the scope has broadened, including to the producing of the ICE.

Now, Red Bull is utilising even more expertise and resources at Ford's disposal. "Initially the focus was on electrification," Rushbrook explained. "But with our advanced manufacturing facility and our [3D] printing machines, we can make things in real time.

"We are literally making things every day that come out of Dearborn, are shipped and are tested in the lab in Milton Keynes."

Is the power unit reaching its targets?

Rushbrook also confirmed the power unit is currently meeting its targets, but was keen to stress that to "achieve everything 100 percent" is not a realistic expectation.

When asked if targets are currently being reached and that everything is going according to plan, he highlighted the need to be reactive to how development unfolds.

"Yes, although of course there are always exceptions because you can never achieve everything 100 percent," he replied.

"But when it comes to achieving the power numbers, then absolutely. Then it's about the reliability tests to match that.

"Do you achieve everything perfectly? No, but that's the reality of any programme. It just happens as you go along and then it's about how you respond, in terms of urgency and in terms of the mindset of the people. So we respond to what we see."

He added: "When the engine develops and finds more power, then of course it's always about testing reliability. So it's: power, reliability, power, reliability."

- Samuel Coop

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TOYOTA TEAM DRAMA OPENS DOOR FOR HILL'S ATLANTA XFINITY RACE WIN

Race winner Austin Hill

Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Richard Childress Racing driver once again proved why he's one of the best on drafting tracks.

Austin Hill held off a charging Chandler Smith and Corey Heim to earn his ninth career win as a NASCAR Xfinity Series driver. Seven of his nine victories have come on drafting tracks including four at Atlanta. 

"We had to dig deep for that one," said Hill, a Georgia native ."The No. 81 [Smith] got into (Turn) 3 and had me jacked up. He's doing what he has to do to try and win. Very surprised that the No. 26 [Heim] pushed me there and didn't go with a Toyota.

"I thought that I messed up into (Turns) 1 and 2, and I hate it that he got into the fence. I wasn't trying to run him into the fence. I was just trying to get him aero loose."

Hill ended up having two Toyota drivers directly behind him in the run to the finish. Smith did get alongside, but his fellow Toyota driver Corey Heim didn't help. He instead chose to push Hill, moving into second position with a shot at his first-ever Xfinity win.

In Turn 1 on the final lap, Heim went to the outside of Hill but ended up tagging the outside wall, ending his chances of winning. Parker Kligerman and A.J. Allmendinger then rocketed past, but they were unable to run down Hill before the checkered flag. Kligerman crossed the finish line second and Allmendinger third. Smith finished a disappointed fourth and Heim fifth.

Smith wasn't very pleased by his teammate's decision to not be a team player at the very end. "Yeah (I'm surprised), we're Toyota teammates," he told NBC Sports. "I got clear out of the restart zone and could have went bottom and hung up top to be the leader. I didn't. I stayed up top with my Toyota teammate. Ultimately gave up the lead doing that." Smith was referring to the 14-to-go restart when he was in control of the race, but stayed in line while Hill passed him on the inside. That ended up being the winning move.

"I expected my Toyota teammate to come with me and that didn't happen. It is what it is, but we had a really fast No. 81 Supra all day. I feel like I've been robbed of three Atlanta wins now unfortunately in my career here. I'm kind of speechless, honestly. There's a lot of different things I could have done. I could have been more selfish and when I got clear, went to the bottom to cover that and just control the race for sure, but I was trying to be a good teammate, and it didn't pay off for me today, as usual."

Naturally, Heim saw things differently, questioning the timing of Smith's move. "At the end of the day, the move was going to be made on a straightaway, not in the middle of the corner. So, if he wanted me to push him by, I feel like if he had just dropped back to my bumper out of (Turn) 4 on the straightaway, and had ourselves, both an opportunity to win the race, I would have gladly pushed him. He had no run or no momentum so why go to the bottom of that point? I came here to win the race. 

"For a team like Sam Hunt Racing to have an opportunity at their first win -- I wanted to give them that opportunity. There's no point going to the bottom in the middle of the corner and trying to scoot by the leader. Best car all day was the No. 21 [Hill]. Just wasn't in my best interest. Wasn't in his best interest, either. I'm not sure why he decided to go down there."

Heim added that the only thing to discuss in the team meeting next week will be about when to make the move. This incident is reminiscent of what took place at the end of the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona when Parker Retzlaff pushed the Ford of Harrison Burton around fellow Chevrolet driver Kyle Busch, costing his manufacturer the race win. Busch later said Retzlaff owed him nothing in the run to the checkered flag.

- Nick DeGroot

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