The year 2026 promises to energize American Formula 1 supporters as Ford plans to return as a technical collaborator with Red Bull Powertrains, while General Motors will enter the sport partnering with Cadillac to operate an 11th team. This sets a fresh stage for a Ford Chevrolet Formula 1 rivalry, reviving memories from historic disputes that captivated NASCAR fans and motorsport enthusiasts across North America.
How Ford and Chevrolet Are Positioning Themselves in F1’s New Era
Ford aims to engineer the next generation of hybrid power units for Oracle Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Visa Cash App RB, marking the company’s comeback after two decades away from Formula 1. Meanwhile, General Motors, owner of Chevrolet, will initially run Ferrari power units while developing plans to manufacture its own engines and field a full works team under Cadillac by 2029. However, tensions between the two American titans have already surfaced publicly, fueling intense competition beyond the racetrack.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Embraces the Revival of Manufacturer Rivalries
Legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has followed the unfolding clashes with enthusiasm, appreciating the return of manufacturer battles that once energized North American racing. He actively engaged in the verbal exchanges online, reflecting his lifelong loyalty to Chevrolet during his racing career.
“Damn let’s go. I miss these manufacturer wars. The battle is back on! I love it. Kick their ass @TeamChevy,”
said Earnhardt Jr., referencing his long history driving Chevrolet vehicles in NASCAR, from his time with Dale Earnhardt Inc. behind the No. 8 Chevrolet to his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports commanding the No. 88.
“Damn let’s go. I miss these manufacturer wars. The battle is back on! I love it. Kick their ass @TeamChevy”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 14, 2026
Corporate Clashes Heighten the Stakes Between Ford and GM in Formula 1
Dan Towriss, CEO of the Cadillac F1 Team, framed General Motors’ involvement as a far more substantial commitment compared to Ford’s approach. Towriss emphasized GM’s deep engineering involvement and equity ownership in the Cadillac entry.
“They’re deeply embedded from an engineering standpoint, and they were involved from day one. Those two deals couldn’t be more different.”
In response, Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford dismissed the Cadillac team’s claims, calling them “patently absurd” and pointing out that General Motors is currently running Ferrari engines instead of true Cadillac power units, raising questions about the involvement of GM employees within the race team.
“If anything looks like a marketing effort, that does… I would say, actually, the reverse is true. They’re running a Ferrari engine. They’re not running a Cadillac engine. I don’t know if they have any GM employees on the race team.”
Will Ford, Ford Performance’s general manager, reinforced this stance, insisting that the partnership with Red Bull extends well beyond surface-level branding to signify genuine technical collaboration.
Broader Impact of the Renewed Rivalry on Motorsport Culture
For now, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s excitement captures the blend of anticipation and nostalgia as NASCAR’s evolving formats intersect with Formula 1’s intensifying battles both on and off the track. The reemergence of the Ford Chevrolet Formula 1 rivalry is injecting fresh energy into motorsports, setting expectations for fiercely contested seasons ahead and underscoring a corporate rivalry that now plays out in a global arena.
Damn let's go. I miss these manufacturer wars. The battle is back on! I love it. Kick their ass @TeamChevy
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 14, 2026
