Red Bull question FIA over surprise F1 engine ranking, says Verstappen
Max Verstappen has revealed that Red Bull are holding discussions with Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, after surprisingly being named the sport’s benchmark power unit manufacturer.
Under the new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system for 2026, the Milton Keynes-based team was judged to possess the best engine on the grid.
As the benchmark constructor, they will not receive any development upgrades this season.
Instead, rival manufacturers will benefit from extra development allowances to close the calculated performance gap.
Surprise over benchmark engine ruling
A leaked document shows that Mercedes are deemed more than two per cent behind the class leaders, granting them one engine upgrade this year.
Meanwhile, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda will receive two upgrades as they are considered more than four per cent adrift.
The ruling has caught the reigning constructors’ champions off guard, particularly as this is their first season producing their own power units.
“I think we were all a bit surprised in the team with that,” Verstappen admitted ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
“I think we can be proud of the job we have done but it never felt like we were, let’s say, the best.”
“That’s why we were surprised and that’s why I think we’re discussing with the FIA to understand what happened there.”
Overcoming pre-season reliability fears
There were initial concerns that the newly formed Red Bull Powertrains division would struggle to remain competitive against established manufacturers.
Despite ongoing reliability issues, the Dutch driver described his team’s efforts behind the scenes as highly impressive.
“Of course, we still have some reliability things, but overall, it’s honestly nice to be a part of it, and seeing the drive of the people, and what they want to do,” he added.
The three-time world champion noted that both he and the factory staff share a relentless drive and are equally disappointed when operations do not run perfectly.
He explained that while the squad feels a sense of pride, there remains significant confusion over suddenly being portrayed as the dominant force.
Track performance contradicts findings
The ADUO findings contrast sharply with track performance during the opening six rounds of the 2026 season.
Mercedes have dominated the early stages of the championship, building a commanding 79-point lead over Ferrari.
The Silver Arrows have clearly possessed the fastest car and demonstrated superior straight-line speed.
This early dominance makes the governing body’s engine assessment even more perplexing to the majority of the paddock.
