Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has pushed back against rumours suggesting that his squad possesses the most powerful power unit in the Formula One grid. He stressed that the team does not currently enjoy a clear advantage in engine performance and that they are counting on the upcoming development window provided by the new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) rules to close any gaps.
The 2026 technical package introduces a performance‑balancing clause known as ADUO. This mechanism is designed to give manufacturers whose internal combustion engines fall at least two percent behind the class leader a chance to develop and upgrade their units during designated periods.
The intent is to keep the competition tighter and prevent a single power‑train supplier from running away with the championship. Originally, the first ADUO window was slated to open after the Miami Grand Prix, but the schedule may be altered because the opening two rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Those cancellations have compressed the calendar and could push the upgrade period further into the season. Mercedes has dominated the first three races, sitting atop the standings with a 119‑point cushion over Red Bull, which currently occupies sixth place.
Media speculation, however, has floated the idea that Red Bull’s internal combustion engine (ICE) might actually be the strongest on the grid, a claim that would make the team eligible for ADUO assistance. Mekies dismissed that notion outright. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mekies said, "Is it at the level of the very best? Absolutely not.
So do we expect to be in that group of people able to be given the possibility to catch up? Yes, we certainly hope to be in that category." He echoed Mercedes chief Toto Wolff’s view that ADUO should be used to allow lagging manufacturers to "catch up" rather than to "leapfrog" the leaders. Mekies was clear that, in his opinion, the Silver Arrows still hold the edge in ICE performance. The ADUO framework outlines three distinct periods during the season when upgrades can be introduced.
Teams that are judged to be at least two per cent slower than the benchmark engine will receive additional development allowances. Wolff has suggested that Honda, which supplies Aston Martin’s power unit, is the only constructor that truly needs the aid, while Red Bull, Ferrari and Audi are roughly on par with Mercedes. In a separate written interview, Mekies estimated Mercedes’ advantage over Red Bull to be about three‑tenths of a second per lap, attributing a large portion of that margin to the German team’s superior ICE. He explained, "What we see is certainly Mercedes, a long way ahead of most of us.
And yes, you're right, one guy [Honda] particularly behind. The other guys are probably quite close to us, Ferrari and Audi, and fair enough, Honda is probably struggling a bit more. To extract the right combustion‑engine performance in a fair way across the teams is very difficult.
I think overall results are probably giving you the best, the most fair picture, of where everybody is at." Red Bull’s rocky start has also fueled speculation about the future of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen with the team. Verstappen has voiced dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations and hinted at the possibility of stepping away from Formula 1 after the season ends.
Mekies, however, remains optimistic that the forthcoming upgrades will give Verstappen a car capable of delivering the performance he expects, and that this will also improve his morale. "The Max we see is a fully committed Max. He wants a fast car and he's helping the team to get a fast car.
He's bringing all his energy to that," Mekies said. He added that Verstappen’s passion for the sport is evident, noting that the Dutch driver has not shied away from speaking up when he feels changes are needed. "We have a step forward for the regulations coming for Miami. He's embracing that.
Will it be enough? We have time to see together if it's going to be enough or not." Mekies emphasized that the priority is to provide Verstappen with a machine he can consistently push.
He acknowledged that the first three races presented a difficult car for both Verstappen and rookie Isack Hadjar, but stressed that the team’s focus is on delivering a platform that allows the driver to unleash his "Max effect" and build development momentum. "It doesn't mean it will be fast enough for positions immediately, but it means he can start to bring his 'Max effect' and we can start to build development onto that car," Mekies explained. He expressed confidence that, even if the upgrades are not fully realised by the Miami event, the team will identify and address the limiting factors as they did last year, leading to increasingly positive results for Verstappen.
The Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, will be the season’s second Sprint weekend and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the race via NOW without a contract, with the option to cancel at any time.