Ford Returning to F1

[Cobrar]

Announcement at 9:45 am 2//3/2023 at FordPerformance.com

Release follows:

Ford Returns To Formula 1 As Popularity Grows In U.S. And Around The World​

“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” said Bill Ford, executive chair.​

Friday, February 3, 2023
DEARBORN – After more than 20 years, and as F1 transitions to a new and more electrified future, now is the time for Ford to make its long-awaited return to the FIA Formula One World Championship, the sport it dominated in the late ‘60s and ‘70s.
“This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather won a race that helped launch our company,” said Bill Ford, executive chair. “Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.”
Formula 1 continues to grow its audience in key markets around the world including in the U.S. In addition, the FIA and F1 have a commitment to sustainability with increased use of electric power as well as sustainable fuels – one of the key reasons for Ford to return to Formula 1.
Despite leaving the sport in 2004, Ford remains the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history with 10 Constructors’ championships and 13 Drivers’ championships.
“The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1,” said Stefano Domenicali, President, and CEO of Formula 1. “Ford is a global brand with an incredible heritage in racing and the automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world. Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “There are few manufacturers who have such a celebrated motor sport history as Ford, so to see them coming back to the FIA Formula One World Championship is excellent news. It further underlines the success of the 2026 Power Unit Regulations that have at their heart a commitment to both sustainability and spectacle, and of course having more interest from the United States is important for the continued growth of the world’s top motor sport category.
Ford and Formula 1 will provide more details about Ford’s return to the circuit later this morning.
What: Ford and Formula 1 introduction
When: Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, beginning at 9:45 a.m. eastern
Where: FordPerformance.com
Summary: Ford and Formula 1 will provide details of Ford’s return to Formula 1.

 

[Cobrar]

https://performance.ford.com/series/formula-1/news/articles/f1/2023/02/ford-returns-to-formula-1.html

 

[twobjshelbys]

Cool. Saw in yesterday's paper that F1 has given a 10 year commitment to Las Vegas.

 

[MTV8]

Seems like they may be buying in at the top, but still exciting news.

 

[Apollo]

Good to see Ford reconnect to F1. F1 is really booming and Ford should get great exposure.

 

[SYCO GT]

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[KennethClay]

Seems like they may be buying in at the top, but still exciting news.

And ironically, this is the same team they SOLD to Red Bull in 2004 for...$1. (however, Red Bull was also obligated to invest $400 million over the next 3 years).

RE: buying in at the top...I don't know. The new Concorde agreement and budget cap should make the racing more competitive, and "Reality TV" Drive to Survive is greatly increasing the popularity of the sport stateside. But I guess time will tell...

 

[Stef]

When I heard the news it made my day.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Anyone coming to Vegas for the F1 race?

 

[QuickSilverShelby]

I've been in Vegas for a couple of weeks and will be around for the F1 race. I had planned on going to the race until F1 announced the ticket prices. $1,500 for standing room only and tickets only go up from there. A grandstand seat, from what I've seen, is currently around $1,700 per seat so it would be $3,400 for me and the wife plus $75 for parking and might as well add in a couple of drinks & food so I figure I'd be in for $4,000 by the time all was said and done.
I'd love to go but not for $4k, not a chance. $4k US$ equates to $5,500 Canadian dollars or approximately $11,000 of my hard earned pretax dollars and seeing how there's no way I can see writing this off through my business back home in Canada, I am therefore not going. Besides, in the past 2 weeks I attended the Mecum car auction with my wife today ($20 x 2 = $40 for GA tickets + parking was free), the SEMA convention last week ($0 as the wife didn't go with me + parking was free) and the NHRA drag races on October 28th ($92 x 2 = $184 for platinum tickets + parking was free) so I've attended 3 car events (2 with my wife) for the grand total of $224 in the past 3 weeks to help me balance my meds for my sever car sickness....... and I've got a real bad car sickness....... I need help! Besides, I can blow $11,000 on some cool car shit for one of my cars.

I'm a big F1 fan but Verstappen has won the World Championship, Red Bull was won the Constructors Championship so there's not much on the line to justify a $11,000 dollar drop on my part.

Couple the ticket prices along with a 10:00pm start time on Saturday night, which means your probably not getting home till 2:00 or 3:00 am on Sunday morning, means I'm gonna skip it this year. The race is going to be in Vegas for at least 3 years so I'll wait till next year and see if tickets are a "tad" more reasonable. Unless somebody has a couple spare Skybox or Hospitality seats the might want to part with for slightly less then face value for the sole enjoyment and exhilarating thrill of swapping car stories with my wife and I for the evening, I'm gonna be at home enjoying it on the boob tube. Yup, just me, myself and I, a bottle of scotch and a cigar or two....... sounds like a good night.

QSS

 

[fjpikul]

Yes, prices were similar at COTA.

 

[PeteK]

The Velocity Invitational event this weekend at Sonoma Raceway was $175 for general admission, including parking for Friday-Sunday. It wasn’t F1, but where else do you get to see vintage Dusenbergs tearing up the track in the morning, and the new FGT MK IV run laps in the afternoon, with all varieties and ages of cars in between? Okay, you can do that at Goodwood, but that would also require a roundtrip plane ticket to England, rental car, hotel room, etc.

And F1 organizers wonder why it isn’t popular in the US…

 

[twobjshelbys]

The contract calls for 10 years. Nothing says they won't ditch earlier but F1 put a boat load of money into public improvements too so I think they're pretty invested.

Hotel room rates are dropping like a rock. I've heard that race tickets for some of the cheaper areas (ie, less visible) are also being discounted. Like all things Vegas they don't like to have anything but a sell out so prices will continue to go down.

I'll watch it on TV. We avoid the strip. My daughter and I have tickets to U2 at the Sphere in mid-December and I'm afraid that parking will be unavailable, let alone costly, and am considering the strip bus. I already know it will be a dry concert: a 12 oz beer is $20.

It's hugely disruptive. The employees of the hotels on the inside of the circuit are being told to park at the convention center and take the tram and to arrive 4 hours before shift start.

Union threatened strike and had the organizers by the b****... They'd been striking for months and if they'd settled earlier they could have probably gotten away with $1/hr raise instead of the $3 they settled for.

Workers are concerned that with a big European crowd - whose culture isn't tip oriented - will leave them short. Cabs have already put a $15 surcharge on rides starting soon.

Most of us who live here don't think we're benefitting from it.

F1 will just be over and we get to repat for the Super Bowl.

 

[07XL0027]

The Velocity Invitational event this weekend at Sonoma Raceway was $175 for general admission, including parking for Friday-Sunday. It wasn’t F1, but where else do you get to see vintage Dusenbergs tearing up the track in the morning, and the new FGT MK IV run laps in the afternoon, with all varieties and ages of cars in between? Okay, you can do that at Goodwood, but that would also require a roundtrip plane ticket to England, rental car, hotel room, etc.

And F1 organizers wonder why it isn’t popular in the US…

I did velocity with FGT899 the weekend after Rally 13. It was a really good time.

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Read last night ---prices are quickly dropping. The no-see-em barriers for track side businesses are either being removed or price lowered to a single charge rather than a per person charge of $1,000! Money is walking away from the casino's in advance of the race. The usual heavy bettors are say FU to their favorite casino and a bigger FU to F1.

 

[2112]

Jeezus, and I thought Ecclestone was gone. I guess the new owner/promoters don’t realize you can sheer sheep over and over, but once you cut them, it’s all over.

Also, 10:00pm start time will be crazy.

 

[twobjshelbys]

Also, 10:00pm start time will be crazy.

Yeah, and they seemed to forget that it cools off big time at night and that temps will be 50s to 40s. The tire people assure them they have it under control but the short track times during practice and qual mean they probably won't be up to temp. Expect slower times or more incidents.

 

[QuickSilverShelby]

The Velocity Invitational event this weekend at Sonoma Raceway was $175 for general admission, including parking for Friday-Sunday. It wasn’t F1, but where else do you get to see vintage Dusenbergs tearing up the track in the morning, and the new FGT MK IV run laps in the afternoon, with all varieties and ages of cars in between? Okay, you can do that at Goodwood, but that would also require a roundtrip plane ticket to England, rental car, hotel room, etc.

And F1 organizers wonder why it isn’t popular in the US…

Right, $175 for 2 days and parking for an event like this. I'll take that everyday and twice on Sunday.

QSS

 

[KennethClay]

Yes, prices were similar at COTA.

Right, $175 for 2 days and parking for an event like this. I'll take that everyday and twice on Sunday.

QSS

The Velocity Invitational event this weekend at Sonoma Raceway was $175 for general admission, including parking for Friday-Sunday. It wasn’t F1, but where else do you get to see vintage Dusenbergs tearing up the track in the morning, and the new FGT MK IV run laps in the afternoon, with all varieties and ages of cars in between? Okay, you can do that at Goodwood, but that would also require a roundtrip plane ticket to England, rental car, hotel room, etc.

And F1 organizers wonder why it isn’t popular in the US…

Well, they managed to get 432,000 people to COTA for the event. I'd say that's pretty popular....

 

[PeteK]

Are you sure you didn't add an extra zero?

Joking aside, I have to wonder how many people paid that advertised price. 432,000 people X $1000 = $432,000,000 just at the gate. Doesn't sound like realistic numbers to me.