World champion says Red Bull were “surprised” by the FIA’s assessment of the 2026 power unit hierarchy, with discussions ongoing over the governing body’s controversial ADUO calculations.
Max Verstappen has revealed that Red Bull are actively engaged in discussions with the FIA after a controversial ruling placed the Milton Keynes outfit at the top of Formula 1’s 2026 power unit rankings.
Speaking during media day ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Barcelona, the reigning world champion admitted Red Bull had been caught off guard by the FIA’s conclusions and are seeking clarification on how the governing body arrived at its assessment.
The issue centres around Formula 1’s newly introduced Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) programme, which was created to prevent manufacturers from falling irretrievably behind under the sport’s all-new power unit regulations.
With the 2026 rules placing a far greater emphasis on electrical power and battery deployment, significant performance differences have emerged between engine suppliers during the opening phase of the season.
While Mercedes-powered teams have largely dominated race weekends, the FIA’s confidential performance analysis determined that Red Bull’s new power unit – developed in partnership with Ford – is currently the strongest package on the grid.
That verdict has created widespread intrigue throughout the paddock.
ADUO programme sparks debate
The ADUO system allows manufacturers trailing the benchmark power unit by more than two per cent to receive additional development opportunities during the season.
The further behind a manufacturer falls, the more upgrade allowances it receives, creating a mechanism designed to keep the field competitive while maintaining the cost-conscious principles of the new engine regulations.
Under the FIA’s calculations, Mercedes are considered more than two per cent behind Red Bull’s power unit and therefore qualify for one additional engine update during the campaign.
Ferrari, Honda and Audi have reportedly fallen even further back, earning two upgrade opportunities each.
The revelation came as a surprise to many observers given Mercedes’ impressive on-track form, prompting questions over exactly how the FIA measures overall power unit performance.
Verstappen: ‘We were all surprised’
Verstappen did little to hide Red Bull’s own confusion regarding the findings.
“I think we were all surprised,” the Dutchman said in Barcelona.
“That’s why we’re in discussions with the FIA to understand how they reached that conclusion. There’s not much more to say at the moment.”
His comments suggest Red Bull are not necessarily disputing the FIA’s authority but are instead seeking greater transparency over the methodology used to rank the manufacturers.
The FIA has intentionally kept the precise metrics confidential in an effort to prevent teams from manipulating development strategies or exploiting potential loopholes within the regulations.
However, that secrecy has inevitably fuelled speculation throughout the paddock.
Political battle emerging behind the scenes
The debate has already drawn reactions from rival drivers and teams.
Williams driver Alexander Albon recently suggested that the situation has become increasingly political, with manufacturers reluctant to be labelled as possessing the best engine because doing so reduces their access to valuable development concessions.
In effect, the ADUO framework has created a unique scenario where being recognised as the benchmark may actually carry competitive disadvantages later in the season.
For Red Bull, the FIA’s ruling means they currently receive no additional upgrade opportunities, despite the team’s mixed results on track and their ongoing battle with Ferrari and Mercedes for podium positions.
Bigger implications for the championship
The controversy arrives at a crucial moment in Formula 1’s first season under the revolutionary 2026 regulations.
Engine performance is expected to play a defining role in determining the competitive order for years to come, making the allocation of upgrade opportunities one of the most significant political and technical battlegrounds in the sport.
Whether Red Bull’s discussions with the FIA lead to greater clarity remains to be seen, but Verstappen’s remarks underline the uncertainty surrounding a system that was introduced to create fairness yet has already become one of the most debated topics in the paddock.
As the championship battle continues, the outcome of these talks could prove just as important as the action taking place on track.