Red Bull will announce Ford as their new engine partner from 2026 at the team’s season launch in New York on Friday.
News of the partnership was released in Italy on Thursday ahead of the announcement and while there was no comment from Red Bull, the deal is an open secret.
Ford’s part will mainly be a badge exercise, with Red Bull continuing to develop its own PowerTrains division at its headquarters in Milton Keynes.
Red Bull PowerTrains was established in 2021 specifically to prepare for the 2026 regulations, which include an increased electric component in fully sustainable engines and fuels. It already employs hundreds of staff.
The idea was to be self-sufficient by 2026 when current partner Honda will exit the sport entirely, but Ford will help finance the project and influence a core market.
The American carmaker has not been involved in F1 since 2004, when they pulled out after selling their Jaguar team to Red Bull. But they are keen to return to a sport that is currently booming in the States, and Formula One will race three times on US soil in 2023, in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas.
Andretti Autosport has already announced their intention to enter the grid in 2026 with the Cadillac brand, although they will have to go through an application process with several other interested parties as well.
Read below for more information on the 2023 season
When are the F1 car launch dates?
Red Bull, RB19: February 3, 2pm (UK time) New York
Williams: February 6, online
AlphaTauri AT04: February 11, New York
Aston Martin AMR23: 13 February, Silverstone
Ferrari: February 14
Mercedes W14: 15 February, Silverstone
Alpine A523: February 16, London
Alfa Romeo: February 7
Haas: Physicians were dispatched on January 31
What do the cars of 2023 look like?
There is VF23
Red Bull, RB19
When is pre-season testing?
Unlike last year, there is only one pre-season test before the 2023 season. That runs from Thursday, February 23 to Saturday, February 25 at the Bahrain International Circuit, just outside Sakhir.
Will the test be televised?
We have not yet received any confirmation that this is the case. After a few years of testing being broadcast on F1TV and Sky Sports, the first test last year in Spain (which wasn’t officially a test in name but a “pre-season shakedown”) was not broadcast, but the second test was in Bahrain.
Since there is only one test, a week before the race it looks like the test will be televised in some form, but that is not guaranteed.
When is the first race in 2023?
The first grand prix of the 2023 season is also at the Bahrain International Circuit, which will take place from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 March.
Where and when will the six sprint races be this year?
Formula One has announced the six sprint venues for 2023 with Azerbaijan, Belgium, the Austin race in the United States and Qatar all joining Austria and Brazil for qualifying on Friday and a shortened ‘sprint’ race on Saturday.
Three sprint races were held in 2022 – in Imola, Austria and Brazil – and there was much discussion early in the season about extending that offer to next year.
The teams and F1 were keen to double the number, arguing that sprint races were successful in attracting fans and increasing audience sizes. But the FIA, the motoring world’s governing body, initially objected, claiming it would cost them more and asking for compensation.
Also like last year, points will be given to the eight best drivers in the sprint race. Again, the sprint races will be around 100km – or about a third of the distance of a grand prix – and will take place on Saturday, with the traditional three-part qualification setting the grid for the sprint and taking place on the Friday.
The driver who tops qualifying on Friday, when the sprint races take place, will be awarded the official pole position, not the sprint winner, as in 2021.
What are the layers of the drivers
Red bull: Max Verstappen (33) and Sergio Pérez (11)
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton (44) and George Russell (63)
Ferrari: Carlos Sainz (55) and Charles Leclerc (55)
alpine: Esteban Ocon (31) and Pierre Gasly (10)
McLaren: Lando Norris (4) and Oscar Piastri (81)
Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas (77) and Guanyu Zhou (24)
Aston Martin: Lance Stroll (18) and Fernando Alonso (14)
Haas: Kevin Magnussen (20) and Nico Hulkenberg (27)
Alpha Tauri: Yuki Tsunoda (22) and Nyck de Vries (TBA)
Williams: Alexander Albon (23) and Logan Sargeant (2)
What is the full calendar?
March
5: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
19: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Jeddah
April
2: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
30: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku +
May
5-7: Miami Grand Prix, Miami
19-21: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola
26-28: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
June
June 2-4: Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona
June 16-18: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
July
2: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg +
9: British Grand Prix, Silverstone
23: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
30: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps +
August
27: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
September
1-3 September: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
15-17 September: Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore
22-24 September: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
October
6-8 October: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail+
20-22 October: United States Grand Prix, Austin +
27-29 October: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
November
3-5 November: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Sao Paulo +
16-18 November: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
24-26 November: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
+ It represents the weekend of a sprint event
How to watch the season
As has been the case for some time now, in the UK, Sky Sports F1 has almost exclusive coverage rights for the season. They will be showing all practice sessions, qualifying sessions, sprint qualifying and races throughout the season.
Channel 4 will once again have their extended qualifying and race highlights, and the British Grand Prix in July will be broadcast live.
If you are outside the UK you may be able to subscribe to F1TV F1 itself for a monthly fee during the season.