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Max Verstappen has revealed that Red Bull are discussing their engine performance results with the FIA after being named the power unit manufacturer with the best engine.
As part of the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, the FIA judged the pecking order of the 2026 power unit manufacturers – Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda.
Sky Sports News The document sees Mercedes lagging more than two percent behind Red Bull’s power unit, so will be given an engine upgrade this year, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda will be given two upgrades as they are believed to be more than four percent behind Red Bull.
As the benchmark power unit manufacturer, Red Bull, who are developing their own engines for the first time in F1, will not receive engine upgrades.
Apart from the upgrade for this season, Mercedes is likely to have one upgrade for 2027 while Ferrari, Audi and Honda are likely to have two.
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“I think we’re all a bit surprised in the team about it,” Verstappen said ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
“I think we can be proud of the work we did but it never felt like we were, let’s say, the best. So we were surprised and that’s why I think we’re in discussions with the FIA to understand what happened there.
“We are in close discussions with the FIA to see why or how this happened.”
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Max Verstappen fails to get off the line at the start of the race as Kimi Antonelli leads the Monaco Grand Prix
Pre-season concerns were that Red Bull’s power unit would be uncompetitive as they had never built their own engines, and Verstappen said what the team had done was “very impressive”.
“Obviously, we still have some reliability stuff, but overall, it’s honestly nice to be a part of it and see people’s drive and what they want to do. They’re never satisfied,” he added.
“I’m never satisfied either, but they’re the same, and they’re equally disappointed when things don’t go right. So, yes, in a way, because we’re proud, (but) a little confused to suddenly be portrayed as the best, because we don’t feel like that.”
Verstappen: F1 regulations are going in the right direction
On Wednesday, the FIA announced that changes to the engine rules will be made over the next two years.
The 2026 season saw a roughly 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power as part of the sport’s new rules. For the 2027 season, the split will be 58-42 for the former and increase to 60-40 in 2028.
Verstappen has been a vocal critic of this year’s regulations and previously said a 60-40 split was the “minimum” necessary to stay in the sport.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third at the Canadian GP but criticized the power units, calling the racing ‘very anti-racing’ and not what Formula 1 should be about.
Asked about the changes, he said: “I think it’s good to see the changes already being made this year but also for next year.
“Obviously I hoped that what we’ve already got in 2028 will be next year. But I also understand that there’s politics involved. At least the changes they’re making are going in the right direction, so that’s a good thing.”
Verstappen met some of Red Bull’s senior figures in Austria before arriving in Barcelona but declined to give details of their discussions.
“If there’s anything new about what I’m doing, I’ll let you know,” the 28-year-old said.
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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen give their advice on leading Kimi Antonelli in title fight
Russell ‘not surprised’ by ADUO’s findings
The ADUO result came as a surprise to most people in the paddock as Mercedes clearly had the best car and had been strong on the straights during the six rounds so far.
The Silver Arrows are 79 points clear of Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ championship, while Red Bull are 172 points behind in fourth.
George Russell said: “I’m not surprised because you know it’s in agreement with all the manufacturers, based on the combustion side of the ADUO power unit, we knew from Barcelona (testing), Red Bull apparently had a powerful combustion engine.
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“The performance we’ve had as a team recently has shown how strong our chassis is. It’s been a lot of talk around our engine… the engine is great, the chassis is incredible.”
However, championship leader Kimi Antonelli disagreed with his Mercedes teammate and said he was “surprised” by the result, which has yet to be announced by the FIA itself.
“I think our PU is very strong, but there were definitely reasons behind it,” said Antonelli, who leads Russell by 68 points in the drivers’ championship.
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“The team now has to start working to look and try to find where we can get more performance. So, it’s not going to be a short-term process, it’s going to be a long-term process because it still takes time to find more performance in the engine.
“Obviously the team has already done an incredible job with PU, and I’m sure they’ll do their best and try to get even more performance when we get this facility.”
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton added: “It’s definitely a surprise because the Red Bull and Mercedes engines are so close. Red Bull have done an amazing job with their engine but so have Mercedes.
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“I heard that Mercedes had some people who went to Red Bull. Anyway, they did something that no one thought they would do for a new engine manufacturer in such a short time. Well done to them.
“I think Mercedes still have a better engine – it’s very close between them – but at the end of the day it’s not my decision.”
Sky Sports F1’s Barcelona-Catalunya GP schedule
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Ahead of this weekend’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, we look back at some of the most dramatic moments from previous races at the circuit.
Friday 12 June
8.50am: Exercised F3
10am: F2 exercise
12pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice One (Session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Two (Session starts at 4pm)*
5.30pm: The F1 Show
6.30pm: Team bosses’ press conference
Saturday 13 June
9am: F3 sprint
11.15am: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Practice Three (Session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP qualifying build-up*
3pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Qualifying*
5pm: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday 14 June
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: Barcelona-Catalonia Grand Prix*
4pm: Barcelona-Catalunya GP Reaction: Checkered flag
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also on Sky Sports main events
Formula 1 is in Spain for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix with live coverage on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime
