Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies revealed the team is working with the FIA to modify Formula 1's Additional Development and Upgrades Opportunities system after contentious findings placed Red Bull as the benchmark rather than expected leader Mercedes. ADUO measures V6 engine performance quarterly and grants upgrade tokens to manufacturers lagging behind, but only considers the internal combustion engine rather than overall hybrid performance.
Red Bull was surprised by initial FIA evaluations that designated them as the standard despite Mercedes' dominant season start across all areas. The system's focus solely on ICE performance fails to capture the complete picture of hybrid power unit competitiveness, prompting discussions about methodology improvements for 2027.
Under current results, Mercedes receives one token for being 2-4 percent down on power, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda all have two tokens for exceeding 4 percent deficits. Red Bull receives no tokens despite the team's belief that other performance factors beyond peak ICE power remain available for development.
Mekies emphasized Red Bull's preference for having a strong engine without ADUO rather than a weak engine claiming tokens. The team continues extensive development work on operating windows and system optimization in their first year as a power unit manufacturer, with recent upgrades contributing to Max Verstappen's improved form including his first victory of 2026 in Malaysia.