Max Verstappen has explained why Red Bull-Ford can rank as Formula 1’s strongest combustion engine under the FIA’s ADUO system while Mercedes still appears to possess an important advantage in overall power unit performance. According to the Dutchman, the crucial distinction is that the assessment focuses on the internal combustion engine and does not measure battery performance, an area where Red Bull is currently less competitive.
Monza provided perhaps the clearest indication yet that Mercedes has the strongest overall power unit package on the 2026 Formula 1 grid. Nevertheless, the FIA’s ADUO assessment has identified Red Bull-Ford as the benchmark for combustion-engine performance, with the consequence that the Milton Keynes manufacturer is the only one not receiving additional development opportunities under the system.
Why Red Bull-Ford ranks as the best engine under ADUO
The situation was discussed by Max Verstappen during Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, which GP-News.net attended. The Red Bull driver explained that the central issue is the way the development concession system evaluates performance: the combustion engine is assessed, while the electrical side of the power unit is not included in the same calculation.
That distinction matters considerably under the 2026 regulations because electrical energy deployment has become an increasingly important part of Formula 1 performance. It is also an area that has contributed to some of the difficulties Max Verstappen has encountered with the current generation of machinery, with the Red Bull RB22 exposing a different set of weaknesses in 2026.
“The fact is that, obviously, they measure the performance of the combustion engine and not the performance coming from the battery. So they are two different things even though, in the end, the two parts of the power unit deliver almost the same power,” Max Verstappen explained.
“So yes, if you only measure one thing, then maybe we are very strong in terms of combustion-engine performance but not as strong on the battery side compared with Mercedes. Obviously it is very difficult to know, but that is what it looks like at the moment. In terms of deployment, we simply didn’t have the same kind of deployment as them.”
Max Verstappen highlights Mercedes battery deployment advantage
Charles Leclerc had already pointed to the same issue at Monza, explaining that Mercedes was able to make a significant difference through the way it deployed electrical energy from the battery.
Max Verstappen experienced that advantage directly during the Italian Grand Prix. Although he managed to put himself at the front of the race, he found it extremely difficult to defend against the Mercedes cars and could only remain close when he had access to additional overtaking deployment.
“I think it was quite clear when I got into the lead of the race,” Max Verstappen added. “It was very difficult to fight them and I could only keep up when I was behind and had overtake mode active. So yes, we simply need to do a better job.”
The comments add another dimension to the technical limitations Red Bull faced at Monza. Max Verstappen had already identified a key weakness of the RB22 after the Italian Grand Prix, and the difference in electrical deployment appears to be another area where Mercedes currently holds an advantage.
ADUO leaves Red Bull with less development freedom
The uncomfortable consequence for Red Bull-Ford is that its strong combustion-engine rating works against it within the ADUO framework. While rival manufacturers have access to additional opportunities to improve their power units, Red Bull does not benefit from the same concessions because its combustion engine is considered the benchmark.
For Max Verstappen, however, the ranking does not tell the complete story. A modern Formula 1 power unit depends on the interaction between the combustion engine and its electrical systems, meaning a strong result in one area does not necessarily guarantee the best overall performance on track.
That was particularly visible at Monza, where energy deployment on the long straights became a major performance factor and Mercedes was able to exploit its package more effectively.
Red Bull therefore still has work to do across the entire car and power unit package rather than concentrating on a single weakness.
“We keep doing that, trying to improve in every area, so in terms of the car, engine, battery, everything,” Max Verstappen concluded. “It never ends, it’s a continuous development process and we know what we need to work on, but it takes time.”
For the latest developments surrounding the four-time world champion and Red Bull’s 2026 campaign, GP-News.net’s Max Verstappen coverage follows the technical and competitive challenges facing the Dutch driver throughout the season.
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