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The conclusion of the upcoming Canadian GP will mark the FIA’s first verdict on which teams are eligible for their new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) initiative. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies is expecting a helping hand.
The initiative is aimed at any engine manufacturers who are lagging behind their more prepared rivals. At this moment in time, Honda is the only engine supplier that is guaranteed to be receiving ADUO from the FIA.
The results from the first four rounds of the 2026 F1 season have painted Mercedes in a dominant light, with their new power unit, which was built in line with the new rulebook, boasting a reputation of being the best-in-class.
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Although Red Bull are yet to claim a podium this season, they have been suggested to be racing with the second-best power unit on the grid. Mercedes staff actually believe Red Bull’s engine is on par, or even better, than their own.
However, the political landscape of Formula 1 makes it difficult to see through the smoke and mirrors of each team as they attempt to get an advantage over their rivals on the grid. Still, Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies is adamant their current performance warrants a helping hand.
- READ MORE: Red Bull are ‘convinced’ their 2026 F1 engine is on par with Mercedes as chassis issues persist
Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies is expecting to receive ADUO from the FIA
In an interview with Sky Sport Italia ahead of the race weekend in Montreal, Mekies was asked for his expectations on whether Red Bull will receive any aid from the FIA regarding their 2026 power unit.
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“First of all, I want to say that we have complete confidence in the Federation; otherwise, Red Bull Racing wouldn’t be here competing,” the Frenchman began. “What we’re seeing is that Mercedes is well ahead of most of us, by two or three tenths of a second per lap.
“The other teams are probably quite close to us, Ferrari and Audi, with Honda struggling a bit more. So yes, like others, we expect to benefit from the ADUO.
“The work done over the last four years has been extraordinary, but we can’t hide the gap that exists between us and the best on the power unit side.
“It’s been a fantastic start, a good starting point, but we’re still missing something, and in that case, the mechanism to catch up exists.”
- READ MORE: Red Bull have prioritised ‘super aggressive’ performance over engine reliability for the 2026 season
Of course, when such an opportunity is available, there is no doubt that every team on the grid would want to be on the receiving end of it.
However, the data from Red Bull’s new engine over the first three rounds of the season suggest that the Milton Keynes-based team may actually be in too good a position to be handed the benefits of ADUO.
The RB22 and VCARB03’s engine has been suggested to be teetering on the edge of the 2% threshold, which suggests that the main root of Max Verstappen’s frustrations has lain in the chassis side of things instead.
A verdict from the FIA is expected to emerge no later than two weeks after the conclusion of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
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