• by Tanya Gazdik , 6 hours ago

It goes without saying the automotive industry is competitive, but executives are usually cordial. 

But the buck stopped with Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford and Ford CEO Jim Farley when Cadillac took a jab at the blue oval racing program. 

“Dan Towriss, a leading figure in the Cadillac project, questioned the substance of Ford’s return to Formula 1 through its partnership with Red Bull, suggesting it amounted to little more than ‘branding,’” according to AutoRacing1.com.

The Ford executives did not mince words in their response. 

“I would say the opposite is true,” Ford said. “As far as I know, they’re using a Ferrari engine, not a Cadillac engine. I don’t even know if any GM employees are involved in the racing team.

“Is our partnership just a marketing ploy? Nothing could be further from the truth. I was initially stunned by such statements,” he added. “Then I had to laugh.”

Farley was equally dismissive when asked about the comments during a Red Bull-Ford event in Detroit, notes AutoRacing1.com. “It’s ridiculous,” he said. “It doesn’t deserve any comment. Actions speak louder than words.”

Both brands are kicking off their new entry into Formula One Racing this year. Their respective entries were center stage during last week’s Detroit Auto Show media events. 

“Ford dominated Detroit Auto Show media events last week with its Ford Racing Season Launch at Michigan Central,” according to The Detroit News. “The glitzy event saw a stream of Ford motorsports drivers from NASCAR to the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Series to Baja 1000 to Formula One. The gathering opened the opportunity for the brand to make a string of performance announcements including the Bronco RTR (shown by drifting champ Vaughn Gittin Jr.) to the Mustang Dark Horse SC to the livery of the Red Bull-Ford Formula One car (introduced by Red Bull F1 ace driver Max Verstappen).”

But GM first stole the spotlight at its new Hudson's Detroit headquarters by pulling the wraps off its Cadillac Formula One car.

“This is the first ever look at the Cadillac Formula One, with its official testing livery, which will appear on the track ... in Barcelona in two weeks,” GM President Mark Reuss said onstage with Roger Penske.

Red Bull’s 2026 season launch event with Ford in Detroit on Thursday will kickstart a big year of American interest in Formula One.

“The series’ United States expansion has boosted its fortunes in recent years, with new grands prix in Miami and Las Vegas capitalizing on the swell of American viewership,” according to The Athletic. “The 2026 season also marks the start of a deal with Apple as F1’s new U.S. TV broadcast partner.”