Red Bull denies best engine claim, eyes ADUO upgrade window

Red Bull’s technical director Laurent Mekies shot down rumours that the team already has the championship‑winning power unit, acknowledging that Mercedes still holds a clear advantage. He welcomed the upcoming Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunity (ADUO) window, which could let Red Bull develop a stronger internal‑combustion engine (ICE) if they fall at least two per cent behind the leader. The comments come as Mercedes leads the 2026 standings, while Max Verstappen has hinted he may reconsider his future if performance doesn’t improve.

Why it matters:

• ADUO could reshape the power‑unit hierarchy for 2026, giving lagging manufacturers a chance to catch up.
• Red Bull’s ability to close the ICE gap is crucial for maintaining its recent dominance and for defending its four‑title streak.
• Verstappen’s satisfaction with the car influences both driver retention and the team’s championship prospects.

The details:

• ADUO trigger: A team qualifies for an upgrade if its ICE is ≥2 % slower than the best‑performing unit; three upgrade windows are built into the season.
• Timing shift: The first window was set for after the Miami Grand Prix but may be delayed after the Bahrain and Saudi races were cancelled.
• Performance gap: Mekies estimates Mercedes’ ICE advantage at roughly 0.3 seconds per lap over Red Bull.
• Competitor landscape: He places Ferrari, Audi and Red Bull in a similar “ball‑park” to Mercedes, while Honda (supplying Aston Martin) trails significantly.
• Mercedes stance: Toto Wolff says ADUO is meant for “catch‑up,” not for teams to “leap‑frog” the leader.
• Verstappen’s view: The Dutch champion has expressed unhappiness with the 2026 regulations and hinted he may step away from F1 after the season if the car doesn’t improve.

What's next:

• Red Bull aims to deliver a meaningful upgrade at the Miami sprint weekend, hoping to give Verstappen a car he can fully “push.”
• If granted ADUO, the team will target ICE refinements that could shave tenths of a second per lap, narrowing the gap to Mercedes.
• The effectiveness of these upgrades will be tested over the next few races, shaping the championship battle and Verstappen’s future with the team.