Ford Fires Back at Cadillac Over 'Marketing Deal' Claims
Ford rejects Cadillac's claim that its Red Bull partnership is just a 'marketing deal,' calling the comments 'patently absurd' as the US manufacturers bring their historic rivalry to Formula 1.
A classic American rivalry has officially arrived in Formula 1. Ford has fired back at Cadillac after the General Motors-backed entry downplayed the Blue Oval’s technical partnership with Red Bull, labeling the criticism "patently absurd" and highlighting the irony of Cadillac running customer Ferrari engines while questioning Ford's commitment.
Why it matters:
With the 2026 regulations set to reset the grid, the battle for US dominance is heating up off the track as much as on it. This verbal sparring underscores the high stakes for both legacy manufacturers as they seek to establish their identities in a global motorsport arena, turning a decades-long NASCAR feud into a premier class narrative.
The details:
- The Spark: Cadillac F1 CEO Dan Towriss ignited the feud by claiming Ford's Red Bull deal is "a marketing deal with very minimal impact," contrasting it with GM's status as an equity owner deeply embedded in engineering.
- The Rebuttal: Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford laughed off the suggestion, telling The Athletic, "I was stunned... They’re running a Ferrari engine. They’re not running a Cadillac engine. If anything looks like a marketing effort, that does."
- Technical Reality: Will Ford, GM of Ford Performance, emphasized that their collaboration goes far beyond branding. The partnership involves "Red Bull Ford Powertrains," a true technical alliance contributing battery technology, V6 combustion elements, and US-based manufacturing.
- US Manufacturing: Originally intended to assist with electrification, Ford's role has expanded to include manufacturing engine components in the US, leveraging their Dearborn expertise to support Red Bull's first in-house power unit.
What's next:
The marketing wars will escalate next month. Ford is set to unveil its 2026 partnership with Red Bull and Racing Bulls at a season launch in Detroit on Thursday night, while Cadillac will counter with a livery reveal during a Super Bowl halftime ad on February 8.