Updated 09:23 23 Dec 2025 GMTPublished 14:15 22 Dec 2025 GMT

Red Bull F1 Confirm Name Change Ahead of 2026 Season

The Formula One giants have confirmed a change to a major change in name impacting their 2026 car.

Ben McCrum

Red Bull Racing have confirmed a name change impacting their car for the upcoming 2026 Formula One season.

It's been just weeks since the end of the 2025 Formula One season ended with a dramatic title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi and speculation for the 2026 season has already started.

The 2026 will bring around some of the biggest changes in the history of Formula One, with several regulation changes set to be introduced and an 11th team set to join the grid.

Recently it was confirmed from next season the popular DRS system (Drag Reduction System) will be replaced by three new and different modes to aid overtaking.

Alongside the major changes across the sport, Red Bull have announced their own change that will impact the naming of a key component of their car next season.

Red Bull will race with their own engine next season. (Image: Giuseppe CACACE / AFP via Getty Images)

For the first time since their arrival to Formula One in 2005, Red Bull will be building their own engine for the upcoming campaign.

Previously, the Austrian team have used an several different customer engines, but will now make their own power unit from 2026 in collaboration with Ford.

Until now, these power units have been named Red Bull Powertrains-Ford, having previously been referred to as Red Bull Powertrains.

But for the 2026 season, Red Bull have decided to simplify things and shorten the name to just Red Bull Ford going forward.

It's not the first time that the Formula One team have worked closely with Ford, as the pair teamed up to create a livery for F1 academy's Chloe Chambers during the 2025 F1 Academy season.

The partnership has also led to some fans creating their own designs for what a Red Bull/Ford livery could look like in the future.

Despite the engine rebranding, Red Bull's official team name will remain remain Oracle Red Bull Racing for the 2026 F1 season

The team will also continue to compete under the company name Red Bull Racing Limited, with star driver Max Verstappen and newly-promoted Isack Hadjar their lineup for the year.

Racing Bulls will also race with the new ford engine, with Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad completing their driver lineup in 2026.

Featured Image Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Topics: Formula 1, Red Bull Racing

Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football, Formula One and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career, he has interviewed top athletes including Gareth Southgate, Luke Littler, Tom Aspinall and Jenson Button.

@benmcc14