Miami: Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has expressed hope that his team will be eligible for developmental assistance under the 2026 "Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities" (ADUO) protocols, despite rival claims that his engine is already among the grid's elite.

The ADUO measure was integrated into this year's technical regulations to maintain competitive parity. It allows any power-unit manufacturer trailing the leading internal combustion engine (ICE) performer by 2% or more to access extra development windows. While the first review was slated to follow this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, the timeline may shift after the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds due to regional conflict.

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The Battle of the ICE

Although Mercedes has dominated the initial three rounds, establishing a 119-point lead over Red Bull, media speculation has suggested Red Bull might actually hold the most powerful ICE. Mekies dismissed these reports in an interview with Sky Sports News.

"Is it [Red Bull's engine] at the level of the very best? Absolutely not," Mekies said. "Hence, do we expect to be in that group of people able to be given the possibility to catch up? Yes, we certainly hope to be in that category."

Mekies concurred with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff that the system should serve as a restorative tool rather than a springboard to dominance. "I think Toto is right. The tool is here to catch up, not to leapfrog anyone. So I'm completely with him on that one," Mekies added.

While Wolff previously suggested that only Honda requires such aid—placing Red Bull, Ferrari, and Audi in the same "ballpark" as Mercedes—Mekies estimated that the Silver Arrows hold a "three-tenths" per lap advantage, much of which he attributes to their ICE.

"What we see is certainly Mercedes, a long way ahead of most of us," Mekies noted. "The other guys are probably quite close to us, Ferrari and Audi, and fair enough, Honda is probably struggling a bit more."

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Retaining the World Champion

The political manoeuvring regarding engine parity coincides with internal pressure to retain Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion has expressed dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations and hinted at a potential departure from the sport after this season.

Mekies remains optimistic that upcoming technical improvements will re-engage the Dutchman. "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 stated.

Acknowledging that the RB22 was "very difficult" to drive during the opening races for both Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar, Mekies emphasised the need to provide a stable platform.

"We are conscious that the priority is that we give him a car he can push with," Mekies said. "Then, after, it doesn't mean that it will be fast enough for positions, but it means he can start to bring his 'Max effect', and we can start to build development onto that car."

Formula 1 activity resumes May 1–3 at the Miami International Autodrome, featuring the second Sprint format of the 2026 season.