F1 News: Another 'fake' Red Bull rumor dispelled

Red Bull’s 2026 engine partner Ford says its commitment to the Formula 1 team is “unchanged” in the wake of all the ‘fake’ rumors made up by the media to try and take the Red Bull team down.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Let us count the ‘fake’ rumors the bias media managed to drum up

Horner is tearing the team apart – FALSE
Horner is on his way out – FALSE
Verstappen is leaving the Red Bull Team – FALSE
Newey is leaving Red Bull because of friction with Horner – FALSE
Ford is looking to pull out of Red Bull engine deal – FALSE
Pierre Wache is looking to leave the Red Bull team – FALSE
The Red Bull team is about to implode – FALSE
Helmut Marko is being forced out of the team – FALSE
Marko is going to leave the Red Bull team and take Verstappen with him – FALSE
Verstappen to is going to drive for the Mercedes F1 team – FALSE

Why all the ‘fake’ rumors surrounding the Red Bull team? One can only assume it is because Max Verstappen is on a path to destroy all the F1 records of their ‘favorite’ driver. The media is supposed to be neutral, but they act like fanboys.

Another reason is they are desperate for ‘clicks’ so they make stuff up to draw the fanboys in to read it.

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Dr. Pierre Wache, Chief Engineer of Performance Engineering at Oracle Red Bull Racing (the real technical brains behind the Red Bull car design) talk in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 04, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

In Miami Ford Performance Motorsports director Mark Rushbrook insisted Adrian Newey’s ‘planned’ exit has no influence whatsoever on its commitment to Red Bull.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Mark Rushbrook of Ford and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 07, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool — Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Mark Rushbrook of Ford and Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talk in the garage prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

“We have huge respect for Adrian in terms of his career and all the things that he has done for many different teams in F1, especially the last 19 years at Red Bull,” Rushbrook told Autosport.

“Nothing but admiration and respect for him, and we wish him the best for whatever he will do in the future.

“Our focus though fully remains on the power unit program for 2026. That’s unchanged after this news, and that is still going ahead full throttle.”

“Continuity was in the very first discussions that I had with [team principal] Christian Horner,” Ford’s Rushbrook said.

“So, my question to him was: ‘How is Red Bull going to continue to be successful in 2026 with all-new regulations?’

“Like any good company or any good racing team, you always have a succession plan, and you are always training and developing people within the organization.

“That is no different in this case. I am not being disrespectful to Adrian at all because he is fantastic, but every team has a succession plan.”

“To do anything great in motorsport, we as Ford find the best teams to partner with. We believe that we have found the best team in Formula 1,” he added.

“It is all about cooperation, understanding the situation and being committed to doing what it takes to be successful. That is continuing with both parties.”