Yesterday Ford announced its return to Formula 1. The American car manufacturer will do so as an engine supplier, although it also considered participating in Formula 1 with its own team.
So Ford does not have its own Formula 1 team, as Audi does, but at Ford they let us know that it was not a good feeling to participate in the premier class of motorsport with its own F1 team.
“We definitely looked at all options,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, at the launch event in New York on Friday. “We definitely took the time to listen to a lot of people.”
“As soon as it was known that Ford was interested, or at least considering an F1 entry, we were approached by a lot of people, whether it was an existing team or a potential team that might be starting up, to see if we could work with them. would work together.”
Ford therefore considered a collaboration with various candidates and a fully-fledged team of its own was also briefly considered.
“We approached a few teams ourselves, but none of them seemed suitable,” said Rushbrook.
“To return as a fully-fledged factory team, owning a team ourselves as in the past, it didn’t feel right. After all, we wanted to strategically join the sport and contribute where it makes sense, also learn where logical.”
“It is very important to come into the sport at the right time, in the right way and with the right partner. We believe we are now doing that on both aspects.”