Red Bull Ford Powertrains hits the mark in Montreal with first podium finish

It took a little over two decades, but Ford Racing is back on a Formula 1 podium. Max Verstappen finished third at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix driving for Oracle Red Bull Racing, with the car running Red Bull Ford Powertrains under the hood. That result put Ford back in the top three for the first time since 2003.

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Verstappen started sixth after qualifying, which on paper wasn't exactly a launch pad for a podium run. But the race shook out differently. Within the first three laps, he'd already moved to fourth as several drivers ahead cycled through early pit stops. From there it turned into a proper scrap with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari which eventually saw Max confirm his third place on the step. His teammate Isack Hadjar had a strong run of his own. Starting seventh, Hadjar worked his way up to fifth by the end of the race, his best finish of the season so far.

Over at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson kept things clean and consistent on his way to seventh. His teammate Arvid Lindblad didn't get that far, unfortunately, after his Sunday ended right there on the starting grid. The weekend actually started on Saturday, where Verstappen picked up seventh in the Sprint, with Lindblad close behind in eighth before his Sunday retirement.

“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."

Mark Rushbrook
Global Director, Ford Racing

The regulations changed significantly heading into this season, new engine rules included, so getting all four cars pointed in the right direction this early is not something teams take for granted.

Next up is Monaco, which arrives in just a few days. Both Red Bull and Racing Bulls will be looking to carry some of that Canadian momentum into round six.