Laurent Mekies, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, has publicly dismissed the notion that his squad currently possesses the most powerful power unit on the grid. While the championship’s new technical framework for 2026 introduces a performance‑balancing provision known as Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO), Mekies insists that Red Bull does not sit at the very top of the internal combustion engine (ICE) hierarchy but hopes to be eligible for the extra development slots that ADUO will provide.
The ADUO mechanism is designed to narrow the gap between the leading engine maker and those that fall at least two per cent behind in terms of ICE performance. Those identified as being sufficiently off the pace will be granted a defined window during the season to introduce upgrades aimed at catching up, not overtaking, the benchmark.
The inaugural upgrade period was slated to open after the Miami Grand Prix, but the schedule may shift because the opening two rounds—Bahrain and Saudi Arabia—were cancelled amid the Middle‑East conflict, potentially delaying the start of the ADUO window. Even though Mercedes has dominated the first three races, sitting at the summit of the constructors' table with a 119‑point lead over Red Bull, there has been a steady stream of speculation suggesting that the Austrian team’s ICE might actually be the strongest on the grid. That speculation is what prompted Mekies to address the issue directly in a interview with Sky Sports News. "Is our engine at the level of the very best?
Absolutely not," Mekies said. "So, do we expect to be part of the group that can be given the chance to catch up? Yes, we certainly hope to be in that category." Mekies echoed the sentiment of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who has argued that ADUO should be a tool for manufacturers to close a performance deficit rather than to leapfrog a rival.
Mekies was unequivocal that, in his view, the Silver Arrows currently hold the crown for the most efficient ICE. The 2026 rulebook outlines three distinct ADUO periods throughout the season. If a team’s ICE is measured to be at least two per cent slower than the leader’s, it will be allocated a specific development budget and a time slot to implement upgrades.
Wolff has suggested that Honda, which supplies power units to Aston Martin, is the only constructor that truly needs the assistance, while he placed Red Bull, Ferrari and Audi in roughly the same performance bracket as Mercedes. In a separate written interview, Mekies offered a more granular estimate of the performance gap.
He claimed that Mercedes enjoys an advantage of about three‑tenths of a second per lap over Red Bull, a margin he attributes largely to the German team’s superior ICE. "What we see is certainly Mercedes, a long way ahead of most of us," Mekies said. "And yes, you're right, one guy – Honda – is particularly behind.
The other guys are probably quite close to us, Ferrari and Audi, and fair enough, Honda is probably struggling a bit more." Mekies also highlighted the difficulty of extracting a fair comparison of ICE performance across the field, noting that the overall results give the clearest picture of each team’s standing. He stressed that the ADUO system should be viewed as a means to level the playing field rather than as a shortcut to dominance.
Red Bull’s challenging start to the season has intensified speculation about the future of four‑time world champion Max Verstappen with the team. Verstappen has publicly expressed disappointment with the 2026 regulations and, speaking in Japan, hinted that he might consider stepping away from Formula 1 at the end of the year if the situation does not improve.
Despite these concerns, Mekies remains optimistic that forthcoming upgrades will provide a platform for Verstappen to extract more performance from the car and rekindle 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." Mekies admitted that the team’s early‑season package was difficult for both Verstappen and rookie Isack Hadjar, but stressed that the priority is to deliver a car that allows the champion to push consistently. "It doesn’t mean it will be the fastest on track immediately, but it will let him unleash his ‘Max effect’ and give us a foundation to build on," Mekies explained. "We have every confidence that, even if things are not fixed for Miami, the team will get to the root of what’s limiting us, just as we did last year, and you will see more and more smiles on Max’s face." The next opportunity for the team to demonstrate progress will be the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, which also marks the season’s second Sprint weekend.
The race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. The outcome in Miami could provide a crucial indicator of whether the ADUO upgrades and the team’s internal work are beginning to narrow the gap to Mercedes and restore confidence for both the drivers and the organization. Overall, Red Bull acknowledges that its engine is not currently the benchmark, but the ADUO provision offers a structured chance to catch up. The team’s leadership, embodied by Mekies, is focused on maximizing the development window, supporting Verstappen’s ambition, and ultimately delivering a competitive package that can challenge the dominant Silver Arrows as the season progresses.