Verstappen: Red Bull and FIA 'don't see the same numbers' over ADUO

Max Verstappen has revealed Red Bull still disagrees with the FIA over its Additional Upgrade and Development Opportunities measurements, saying the team and governing body “don’t see the same numbers” when it comes to power unit performance.

Red Bull Powertrains was again named as the benchmark after the second ADUO period, meaning Red Bull and Racing Bulls cannot introduce further internal combustion engine upgrades this season. Mercedes is judged to be 2-4% behind, while Ferrari, Honda and Audi sit 4% or more off the pace.

Why it matters:

The ADUO system is designed to balance performance across F1’s engine manufacturers. Being named the benchmark effectively freezes Red Bull’s ICE development for the rest of the year, while rivals are allowed to close the gap. That makes the disagreement over the numbers a significant competitive issue, especially at power-sensitive circuits like Monza.

The details:

• Red Bull has been surprised since the first ADUO figures were released, and the FIA has rigorously defended their accuracy.
• Ferrari introduced a power unit upgrade ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, while Honda took its own step at the Dutch Grand Prix.
• Verstappen, speaking at Monza, said: “We are surprised as a team; we don’t see the same numbers. We’re still in discussions with the FIA about it. We’ll see what comes out of it.”
• He also pointed out that the ICE and electrical elements are almost a 50-50 split, so having the strongest combustion engine only covers just over half of the total power unit output.

Between the lines:

Verstappen has previously joked that he would “love some ADUO” to boost Red Bull’s performance. The repeated public skepticism suggests the team is not ready to accept the FIA’s findings, and the ongoing discussions could shape how the engine development rules are viewed for the rest of the season.

What's next:

Despite taking a podium at Spa, Verstappen is not expecting a first win of the season at Monza. “On inefficient tracks we will not be particularly great with energy, so I don’t expect miracles here,” he said. With rivals bringing upgrades, Red Bull is focused on learning more about the car and gathering information for next year.