Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has pushed back against rumours suggesting that his outfit possesses the most powerful power unit on the Formula One grid. He stressed that the team does not currently enjoy the very best internal combustion engine (ICE) and therefore hopes to benefit from the upcoming development window that the 2026 regulations provide. The 2026 rulebook introduces a performance‑balancing tool known as Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO).
This mechanism is designed to give any manufacturer that lags the leading power‑unit supplier by at least two percent a chance to develop and improve their engine during three predefined periods in the season. The first of these windows was slated to open after the Miami Grand Prix, but the schedule may be shifted because the opening two races of the year – Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – were cancelled amid the Middle‑East conflict. Mercedes has dominated the first three rounds, sitting comfortably at the top of the constructors' table with a 119‑point cushion over Red Bull, who are currently sixth.
Despite the points gap, some media outlets have speculated that Red Bull’s ICE might actually be the strongest on the grid, a notion that would qualify the team for ADUO assistance. Mekies dismissed that theory in an interview with Sky Sports News, stating unequivocally, "Is it at the level of the very best? Absolutely not." He went on to explain that Red Bull is indeed looking to be in the group of teams eligible for the upgrade programme. "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," he said. Mekies echoed the sentiment expressed by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who argued that ADUO should be used to close gaps rather than to create new ones.
"The tool is here to catch up, not to leapfrog anyone," Mekies added, confirming his agreement with Wolff’s view that the regulation’s purpose is to level the playing field. According to the ADUO framework, any manufacturer that is measured to be at least two percent slower in ICE performance than the leader will be granted extra development tokens. Wolff has suggested that Honda, which supplies Aston Martin’s power unit, is the only constructor that truly needs this assistance, while he placed Red Bull, Ferrari and Audi in roughly the same performance bracket as Mercedes.
In a separate written interview, Mekies estimated Mercedes’ advantage over Red Bull to be around 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." He also highlighted the difficulty of extracting consistent combustion‑engine performance across the field, noting that the overall results provide the most reliable snapshot of where each team stands. Red Bull’s shaky start to the season has intensified speculation about the future of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen with the squad.
Verstappen has voiced dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations and hinted at the possibility of stepping away from Formula 1 after the current campaign. Mekies, however, remains optimistic that the forthcoming upgrades will give the Dutch driver a car capable of showcasing his talent and restoring 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 added that Verstappen’s passion for the sport is evident, especially when he raises concerns about performance. "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." Mekies stressed that the priority is to hand Verstappen a car he can push to its limits, noting that the first three races have been particularly challenging. "We knew we gave him and Isack 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," he explained. He expressed confidence that, even if the upgrades are not fully realised by the Miami event, the team will identify and eliminate the factors holding them back, just as they did in the previous season. "You will see more and more smile on Max's face," Mekies concluded. The Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, will be the second Sprint weekend of the year and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Fans can also stream the race via NOW without a long‑term contract, cancelling at any time.