Ford Racing sees Red Bull Ford Powertrains partnership achieve first podium success in Canada

Industry

May 29, 2026

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - MAY 24: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (3) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on May 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202605240864 // Usage for editorial use only //

Ford Racing marked its return to the F1 podium for the first time in 23 years as Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen secured third place at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, powered by Red Bull Ford Powertrains.

Race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Second placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Dean Hale, Senior Race Team Composite Technician at Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on May 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec

Qualifying saw Verstappen secure a sixth-place start, but the flying Dutchman soon moved up to fourth place within the first three laps as cars ahead committed to early tyre changes. An entertaining tussle between Verstappen and the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton eventually saw Max confirm his spot on the third step of the podium.

A successful weekend for Verstappen, having also secured points with his seventh-place finish in the Sprint on Saturday, closely followed by Visa Cash App Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindbald in eighth place.

Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar also enjoyed his best result of the season in Montreal, claiming fifth spot on the day after starting seventh on the grid.

Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing lifts his trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on May 24, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec

While Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson showed strong race management to secure a seventh-place finish, teammate Lindblad’s Sunday was brought to an unfortunate early end on the starting grid.

Both cars for Oracle Red Bull Racing and Lawson securing their best results of the season is a tribute to the incredible work that the Red Bull Ford Powertrains team have done in this new era of engines and regulations.

For Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing, this was another milestone in the journey that started in 2022 with a phone call to Red Bull that triggered Ford’s return. ‘Seeing Max secure a first podium of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains era is a landmark moment for our partnership. It has been fantastic to witness the remarkable effort that has gone into the preparation for the 2026 season, and this result is a well-earned marker of the efforts of both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Ford Racing.

‘The progress we have seen across the board for all four cars across the Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls teams, powered by Red Bull Ford Powertrains both in the build up to and during the season has been special to witness. We cannot wait to see where the rest of the season takes us off the back of today’s milestone.’

The F1 season continues in just one week in Monaco as the teams will look to carry their Montreal momentum into round six of their respective campaigns.