DETROIT — Red Bull Ford Powertrains and Oracle Red Bull Racing launched the 2026 Formula 1 campaign with an action-packed Red Bull show in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday night.
It was a significant moment on the journey from Red Bull deciding to build its own power unit in 2021 to being weeks away from running on track in the 2026 World Championship.
The official launch of Red Bull Ford Powertrains inaugural power unit came with a new announcement, as RBFPT Technical Director Ben Hodgkinson joined on a live link from HQ in Milton Keynes, to reveal that the PU would be named DM01, after the late Dietrich Mateschitz, who spearheaded Red Bull’s decision to become an engine manufacturer.
The founder of Red Bull was the driving force behind the decision to enter Formula 1 in 2005 and when the rare opportunity to take full control of the Team’s power unit future arose, he once again made the call to do something many viewed as potentially impossible, and with that Red Bull Powertrains was established. Embodying the brand’s pioneering and rebellious spirit, it was, and is, a decisive commitment to build Red Bull’s very own power unit, with new engine regulations coming into the sport in 2026.
It was a bold step that has allowed Oracle Red Bull Racing to design a power unit specifically for a Red Bull chassis. The first RBFPT power unit will now honor Dietrich’s legacy, powering the RB22 on track, bringing the Red Bull energy to countries all over the world.
Ford joined in 2023 as a Technical Partner to create Red Bull Ford Powertrains and bring on board over 120 years of technical expertise and history in motorsport. Now a Team Partner, the iconic American brand provide crucial technologies and support to Red Bull Ford Powertrains manufacturing, development and engineering.
Ahead of a season when Ford will renter Formula 1, after 22 years away, Red Bull joined forces with Ford Racing to launch the 2026 season in Detroit, the birthplace of Ford and the historic home of car building in the USA.
The action-packed show was hosted at the refurbished Michigan Central Station, which was extensively renovated by Ford Motor Co. over six years. The decision to preserve the iconic building, after it was left abandoned, was another move to represent the Blue Oval’s continued commitment to the City of Detroit.
With Red Bull visiting Ford’s hometown, the show featured an augmented reality deep dive into the power unit, stunts from Red Bull athletes and, crucially, the first look at Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2026 livery – which takes inspiration from the beginnings of Red Bull Racing’s visual presence in the sport and features the famous Ford blue.
“It was incredible to reveal the livery here in Detroit, in Ford’s home,” said Team Principal Laurent Mekies. “The car looks stunning, we wanted to give it a special touch with the gloss for this new chapter. and we hope the fans enjoy it. The Team have done an incredible job, to be here today and to be in the position to go to Barcelona Shakedown with our own car and our own power unit for the first time ever.
“This is the result of the efforts of 2,000 people at the Red Bull Technology Campus, the most talented group that you can find and they have been working together to get us to this moment. It is the beginning of an extremely exciting journey for all of us and we will take to the track as one – one Red Bull chassis and power unit.”
