Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says it became clear early in their talks with Ford how keen the American car-making giant was to return to F1 with them.
Hazel Southwell's articles on RaceFans

Hazel is a motorsport and automotive journalist with a particular interest in hybrid systems, electrification, batteries and new fuel technologies.
RaceFans’ Top 10 Formula E drivers of 2022
Formula E
Posted onWith the year coming to an end, a new Formula E season begins in a matter of weeks. Before then, RaceFans looks back at the best performers of 2022.
RaceFans’ Top 10 Formula 2 drivers of 2022
Formula 2
Posted onThere were 12 different F2 drivers who claimed wins across the season and six succeeded in taking a pole position. Here’s the ten that stood out to RaceFans.
Verstappen says 2022 dominance will be “hard to replicate” after 15th win
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onAfter taking his fifteenth win of the season in Abu Dhabi, Max Verstappen says that he knows Red Bull’s success will be difficult to repeat.
Iwasa holds off Drugovich to win feature race, Sargeant secures superlicence
Formula 2
Posted onAyumu Iwasa held off champion Felipe Drugovich to win the final feature race in Yas Marina while Logan Sargeant secured his F1 superlicence for 2023.
Verstappen reveals “scare” in pits delayed his start to Q3 before he took pole
2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onMax Verstappen revealed he took pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after his car had to be “rebooted” at the start of the final phase of qualifying.
Lawson claims Yas Marina sprint race victory after F1 practice run
Formula 2
Posted onRed Bull-backed junior driver Liam Lawson won the Formula 2 sprint race at the Yas Marina circuit, after stepping in for Max Verstappen in F1 practice.
Doohan reveals how a 3am Instagram message led to his F1 practice debut
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
Posted onAfter making his F1 practice debut in Mexico, Alpine junior Jack Doohan revealed how he pounced on the opportunity offered by Oscar Piastri’s exit from the team.
Hamilton tells NASCAR’s Wallace to keep his head high as he returns from ban
RaceFans Round-up
Posted onIn the round-up: Hamilton tells Wallace to keep his head high after ban • Aston Martin accept cost cap fine • Alonso hits out over Hamilton comments
Perez relieved with fourth as electrical glitch makes qualifying “a total mess”
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
Posted onSergio Perez said he was nearly knocked out in Q1 and Q2 as he grappled with an electrical problem during qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix.
Russell “kicking myself” after Q3 error ends chance of beating Verstappen to pole
2022 Mexican Grand Prix
Posted onBoth Mercedes drivers admitted they could have set better times after qualifying second and third on the grid behind Max Verstappen in Mexico.
Maserati confirms Rossiter as Formula E team principal
Formula E
Posted onFormer Super Formula and WEC driver James Rossiter has been confirmed as the team principal of Maserati’s new Formula E entry.
Why F2’s role as F1’s sustainable fuel guinea pig ‘isn’t going to be a reliability issue’
Formula 2
Posted onFormula 2 will help develop the sustainable fuels Formula 1 will use from 2026 but those running the series are confident reliability won’t be compromised.
F2 stands by rule barring champions from returning after Drugovich urges change
Formula 2
Posted onFormula 2 champion Felipe Drugovich’s call for the series to allow title winners to remain in the category has fallen on deaf ears.
Martins dedicates Formula 3 championship win to late friend Hubert
Formula 3
Posted onVictor Martins dedicated his Formula 3 championship success to his late friend Anthoine Hubert, who died in a crash three years ago.
Monza finish brought back memories of Abu Dhabi finale for Hamilton
RaceFans Round-up
Posted onIn the round-up: Monza finish triggered Abu Dhabi flashback for Hamilton • Zhou nearly hit De Vries behind Safety Car • F2 and F3 penalties were incorrect
Leclerc frustrated by decision not to restart Italian Grand Prix
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted onCharles Leclerc was disappointed by the decision to finish the Italian Grand Prix behind Safety Car after taking second behind Max Verstappen.
F3 champion Martins feared repeat of Hamilton’s Abu Dhabi title loss during red flag
Formula 3
Posted onFormula 3 champion Victor Martins said he feared a repeat of last year’s controversial Formula 1 title-decider during the red flag period in today’s race.
Daruvala holds off Vesti for first win of F2 season in Monza feature race
Formula 2
Posted onJehan Daruvala held off Frederik Vesti for his first Formula 2 victory of 2022 in an attrition-heavy race that saw just 14 cars take the chequered flag.
Martins controversially crowned F3 champion under red flag as Maloney wins final race
Formula 3
Posted onVictor Martins narrowly emerged the FIA Formula 3 champion under a red flag as the final race of the season did not reach full distance.