Ford's F1 story is one of the best, yet most tumultuous, of them all - here's the full, fascinating story behind the company's return to the sport
Horner’s quote reveals more. “As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition,” he says. So it’s more than the ‘stickers-only’ sponsor arrangement that currently exists between Alfa Romeo and Sauber. But independent is the keyword. Like the M-Sport World Rally Championship team, Red Bull still stands apart from Ford – fiercely and by choice.
Yet it only existed and carried the Ford oval because its UK press officer was intuitive enough to recognise the opportunity presented to him by the combined genius of Colin Chapman and Keith Duckworth. Without Walter Hayes, Ford wouldn’t have stumped up the £100,000 that was required to create the DFV. It turned out to be the best £100k anyone in motor racing – or surely in the whole automotive world – would ever spend.
Little is rarely as it seems in F1. It never has been. But what matters is the story, and Ford’s is one of the best, yet most tumultuous, of them all. Kudos to the execs for breathing new life into it – although they’d better brace themselves. It won’t be dull.
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