Red Bull Powertrains Likely to Earn Early 2026 ADUO Upgrade, Mekies Says

Laurent Mekies says Red Bull Powertrains' RB22 will meet the FIA’s ADUO threshold, earning one upgrade before the Canadian Grand Prix. ADUO lets lagging manufacturers add performance parts before the usual homologation deadline.

Why it matters:

Securing an ADUO upgrade could narrow Red Bull’s performance gap to Mercedes, the 2026 benchmark. With only 16 points from three rounds and sitting sixth in the Constructors’ standings, any early‑season boost is crucial.

The details:

• ADUO mechanics: >2 % slower than the leader earns one upgrade; >4 % slower earns two.
• Checkpoint timing: ADUO window opens after Miami, upgrades apply at the Canadian GP.
• Potential qualifiers: Mercedes leads; Ferrari, Audi, Honda get at least one upgrade, Honda possibly two.
• RBPT status: RB22 shows Mercedes‑level pace and reliability, but Verstappen retired in China with an ERS cooling issue and Hadjar had a unit failure in Australia.
• Mekies view: He expects Red Bull to receive an ADUO slot, noting the need for incremental gains across chassis and power unit.

What's next:

Red Bull will use the April break to develop parts for the Canadian GP. Mekies expects modest lap‑time gains, warning against a miracle‑size gap closure. Miami performance will show if the ADUO upgrade puts the team on a stronger trajectory.