Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has refuted speculation suggesting his team possesses the most powerful engine in Formula 1, and as a result, he expects they will be granted the chance to enhance it during an upcoming engine upgrade window. The new power unit regulations for the 2026 season include a performance-balancing measure known as Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO), which will enable manufacturers trailing the leader by two per cent or more to develop their engines. Originally, the first upgrade window was scheduled to follow the Miami Grand Prix, but it may be postponed due to the cancellation of two of the first six rounds. Despite Mercedes' dominance in the initial three rounds, there were rumors that Red Bull actually has the strongest internal combustion engine.
However, Mekies stated that their engine is not at the level of the best and expressed hope that they will be allowed to catch up. He concurred with Mercedes' Toto Wolff that ADUO should permit manufacturers to catch up rather than leapfrog their rivals.
The regulations stipulate three ADUO periods during the season, with those deemed to be at least two per cent behind the top-performing internal combustion engine receiving development opportunities. Wolff believes Honda is the only manufacturer requiring assistance from the regulations, while Mekies estimated Mercedes' advantage over Red Bull to be around three-tenths of a second per lap, largely due to their internal combustion engine. Red Bull's poor start to the season has raised doubts about Max Verstappen's future with the team, but Mekies is optimistic that upcoming upgrades will improve the car and lift Verstappen's spirits.