Verstappen claims Red Bull 'were a bit surprised" after ADUO results

Ahead of this weekend's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand prix, four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen claims Red Bull 'were a bit surprised" after the sport's governing body, the FIA communicated that ADUO results with the teams.

During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, it emerged that the FIA’s initial assessment placed Red Bull Ford Powertrains as the manufacturer with the strongest internal combustion engine, ahead of Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda.

The finding was surprising not only to rival teams but to Red Bull themselves, who have since requested clarification from the governing body. Ahead of the Barcelona‑Catalunya Grand Prix, Max Verstappen openly addressed the situation, revealing the team’s confusion and the ongoing discussions with the FIA.

Under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, the FIA evaluates the performance of each manufacturer’s ICE and allocates upgrade allowances to help close performance gaps.

According to the document seen by several media outlets, Mercedes were judged to be more than two per cent behind Red Bull and will therefore receive one upgrade this season, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda, assessed as more than four per cent adrift, will be granted two upgrades.

As the benchmark manufacturer, Red Bull will receive no upgrades for 2026, and unlike their rivals, they are also not eligible for an additional upgrade in 2027.

The result raised eyebrows across the paddock, particularly given Mercedes’ strong early‑season form and the widespread expectation that Red Bull’s first in‑house engine would require time to match the established manufacturers.

Verstappen admitted that the team did not anticipate being ranked first and are seeking to understand the FIA’s methodology. “We were all a bit surprised in the team with that,” he said.

“We can be proud of the job we have done, but it never felt like we were the best. That’s why we’re discussing with the FIA to understand what happened there. We are in close discussions to see why or how that came along.”

The Dutchman emphasised that the team’s reaction is a mixture of pride and puzzlement. Red Bull entered the 2026 season with concerns about competitiveness, given the scale of building a power unit from scratch.

Verstappen described the project as “super impressive” and praised the determination of the engineers, while also acknowledging that reliability issues remain. Yet the team’s internal data does not align with the FIA’s conclusion that they possess the strongest ICE, leading to their request for a review before the governing body publishes the final document.

The situation has added a new layer of intrigue to the early phase of the 2026 engine era. While Red Bull find themselves unexpectedly cast as the benchmark, they are simultaneously denied the development opportunities granted to their rivals — a dynamic that could influence the competitive balance over the coming seasons.