Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has firmly dismissed the notion that his outfit possesses the most powerful power unit on the grid. He stressed that Red Bull does not currently sit at the very top of the internal‑combustion engine (ICE) performance ladder, and therefore the team hopes to qualify for the additional development slots that the new 2026 regulations will make available to those lagging behind the leader.
Under the 2026 rulebook, the FIA has introduced a performance‑balancing mechanism known as Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO). The system is designed to give manufacturers that are at least two percent slower than the benchmark engine a chance to accelerate their development programmes. In practice, this means that any team whose ICE falls short of the best‑performing unit by the specified margin will be granted extra parts and engineering time during predefined upgrade windows. The first of these windows was initially slated to open after the Miami Grand Prix, but the schedule may be shifted because the opening two races of the season – in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – were cancelled amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The uncertainty surrounding the calendar has added an extra layer of complexity to teams’ planning, as they must now juggle the timing of their upgrades with an evolving race programme. Mercedes has dominated the early part of the season, leading the championship by 119 points after three rounds and sitting comfortably at the top of the constructors' table. Despite this clear advantage, speculation in the press suggested that Red Bull’s engine might actually be the strongest in terms of pure ICE output, a claim that would make the team eligible for ADUO benefits.
Mekies rejected that narrative when speaking to Sky Sports News. "Is it [Red Bull's engine] at the level of the very best? Absolutely not," he said.
"Hence, 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." Mekies echoed the sentiment expressed by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who argued that ADUO should be a tool for catching up rather than a means of leaping ahead of rivals.
Both men agreed that the purpose of the regulation is to level the playing field, not to create a shortcut to dominance. Mekies was explicit in his view that Mercedes currently holds the superior ICE. "I think Toto is right," Mekies added. "The tool is here to catch up, not to leapfrog anyone.
So I'm completely with him on that one." The ADUO framework outlines three distinct periods during the season when eligible manufacturers can receive extra development components. To qualify, a team must be measured as at least two percent slower than the benchmark engine, which is determined through a combination of dyno testing and on‑track performance data.
Wolff has suggested that Honda, which supplies Aston Martin’s power unit, is the only manufacturer that truly needs the extra assistance. He placed Red Bull, Ferrari and the newly‑entered Audi in a similar performance bracket to Mercedes, indicating a relatively tight competition among the top three.
In a separate written interview, Mekies estimated that Mercedes’ advantage over Red Bull translates to roughly three‑tenths of a second per lap, a gap he attributes largely to the German team’s ICE superiority. He elaborated: "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 sluggish start has fueled rumours 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 concludes.
Nevertheless, Mekies remains optimistic that the upcoming upgrades will give Verstappen a car capable of showcasing his talent and reigniting his enthusiasm. "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's passionate about the sport. As you said, he raised his voice when he felt things needed to be done.
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." He continued, emphasizing that the priority is to deliver a machine that allows Verstappen to push to his limits: "We are conscious that the priority is that we give him a car he can push with.
And this has not much to do with the regs. We knew we gave him and Isack (Hadjar) a very difficult car in the first three races.
And we need to give him a car he can consistently push with. Then after, it doesn't mean that it will be fast enough for positions, but it means he can start to bring his 'Max effect' and we can start to build development onto that car." Mekies expressed confidence that, even if the Miami upgrades do not instantly solve all issues, the team will methodically identify and eliminate the factors limiting performance, just as they did in the previous season. He believes this process will gradually bring a smile back to Verstappen’s face and restore Red Bull’s competitive edge. The Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, will mark the season’s second Sprint weekend and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Fans can also stream the race via NOW without a long‑term contract, offering flexible access to the action as the championship continues to evolve under the new regulatory landscape.