Towriss comments on GM vs Ford ‘laughable’ - Farley

Ford CEO Jim Farley says comments from Cadillac Formula 1 team’s Dan Towriss about the scale of the brand’s involvement compared to General Motors are “laughable.”

During a media briefing at the end of last season, Towriss said he didn’t see a rivalry between the two U.S. brands in 2026, stating: “I don't see it as a Ford and General Motors.

“To equate what Ford is doing with Red Bull, to what General Motors is doing with the Cadillac F1 team, it's not even close. One is a marketing deal with very minimal impact, and GM is an equity owner.”

When those comments were put to Farley ahead of the Ford Racing season launch involving the Red Bull-owned teams in Detroit, he gave them short shrift.

“All I'm going to say is it's laughable,” Farley said. “It's not even worth discussing. It doesn't merit a comment.”

Ford is supplying battery expertise and rapid manufacturing capabilities to the Red Bull power unit project, operating under the name of Red Bull Ford Powertrains. To that end, Farley says any potential rivalry with the GM-backed Cadillac entry will take time to develop, and that Ford’s focus is on established names in F1.

“Not really [a rivalry being looked at], to be honest," Farley said. "Our opportunity is getting up to speed with the PU. But I think Red Bull is a completely different animal than a new team. And so our rivals are the McLarens and the Mercedes and the Ferraris and the whole paddock.

“Rivalries like the Packers and the Bears are earned. And they're earned through competition over years. And they're not paid for with money. They're not invented from corporate strategies. Rivalries are made through battle and take years.

“I don't think that's a legitimate rivalry. I think that's chalk and cheese, as the UK would say. That's apples and oranges – whatever metaphor you want to use. Great rivalries are earned in the arena. And if you haven't been in the arena, how could you be a rival?”