Red Bull admits engine lag, seeks ADUO upgrade
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- Red Bull says its power unit is not the best and hopes to qualify for ADUO upgrades, which target manufacturers at least 2% behind the leader.
- Mercedes leads the 2026 standings by 119 points and holds a ~0.3‑second per‑lap ICE advantage over Red Bull, according to Mekies.
- Toto Wolff argues ADUO should let lagging manufacturers catch up, not leapfrog, and names Honda (Aston Martin) as the only team needing help.
- Miami Grand Prix (May 1‑3) was the original deadline for the first upgrade window, and cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia put it at risk of being pushed back.
- Laurent Mekies estimates the performance gap between Mercedes and Red Bull is "three‑tenths of a second per lap", largely from the ICE.
Why it matters: Red Bull can gain a boost if ADUO deems them >2% behind Mercedes, while Mercedes risks losing its lead; the upgrade window originally set for post‑Miami (May 1‑3) faces possible delay, potentially reshaping the 2026 title fight and sponsor revenue.
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