Ford CEO Says Formula 1 Talent Is Helping Shape the Company’s Next-Generation EVs

Ford CEO Jim Farley says many members of the automaker’s advanced electric vehicle team come from Formula 1 or have deep motorsports backgrounds, bringing expertise in aerodynamics and efficiency to the company’s next-generation EV platform.

According to Farley, those skills are expected to play a key role in helping Ford develop more affordable electric vehicles with smaller, lighter battery packs.

Formula 1 expertise is influencing Ford’s EV strategy

Speaking with Autocar, Farley described Ford’s California-based advanced EV team as one of the biggest benefits to emerge from the company’s return to Formula 1.

“One of the biggest gifts that Formula 1 ever gave Ford was our skunkworks team in California,” Farley said. “Almost every one of them either comes from Formula 1 or is a huge F1 fan.”

Farley added that many engineers on the team had never previously worked in the automotive industry. Instead, Ford recruited them specifically for their expertise in aerodynamics and high-performance engineering, according to Ford Authority.

The executive acknowledged that attracting Formula 1 talent to work on mainstream electric vehicles is not always easy.

“A lot of people want to stay in F1,” Farley said. “The challenge is picking people from motorsport who can actually design a breakthrough product.”

Aerodynamics could unlock more affordable EVs

Farley believes Formula 1 engineering can help Ford improve efficiency rather than simply boost performance.

“Every bit of aero we can improve will help us reduce the size of the battery, and F1 has the best aero people in the world,” he said.

Improving aerodynamic efficiency allows automakers to achieve competitive driving range with smaller battery packs, helping reduce vehicle weight and manufacturing costs while improving overall efficiency.

Farley even joked that he once asked renowned Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of Ford’s electric vehicles, though he admitted recruiting someone of Newey’s stature was unrealistic.

The focus on aerodynamics is expected to play an important role in Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, which is being developed to underpin a new generation of more affordable electric vehicles. By combining Formula 1-inspired engineering with cost-conscious vehicle development, Ford aims to deliver EVs that balance efficiency, driving enjoyment, and affordability.

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