(Motorsport-Total.com) – During the Grand Prix weekend in Monaco, all teams and manufacturers received the results of the first ADUO period, Formula 1’s catch-up mechanism with additional upgrade and development opportunities.
Read more With beer and jersey: How Nico Hülkenberg follows the 2026 Football World Cup
To the surprise of many in the paddock, Red Bull was placed at the top of the ranking, meaning that the newcomer is not allowed to further develop its power unit, while manufacturers like Mercedes and Ferrari are entitled to additional upgrades.
The result has left Red Bull with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Laurent Mekies’ team finds it flattering that a newcomer was immediately ranked ahead of manufacturers with far more Formula 1 experience. On the other hand, they do not agree with being excluded from the additional ADUO development opportunities.
“We were all a little surprised by this news,” Verstappen said on Thursday in Barcelona. “I guess that’s why we’re now talking to the FIA to see what happened there and how they came to this conclusion. At the moment, there’s not much more to say about it. That’s what they’re looking at right now.”
Verstappen thus confirms that Red Bull has asked the FIA to review the results. This is also precisely why a public announcement of the result has been delayed.
The FIA stated in Barcelona that the process of reviewing all sensors and data began last Monday and is expected to take between one week and ten days.
While this is a factual review to determine if the results are correct, the real problems with ADUO go much deeper. Only the internal combustion engine is measured – not the entire power unit – yet a manufacturer that qualifies for ADUO is also allowed to modify electrical components.
As a result, the entire system seems to need rethinking, although Verstappen emphasizes that such decisions are not in his hands.
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: Barcelona Practices and Alpine Verdict
“I’m not involved in the day-to-day business either. So I think it’s better if you ask someone else how accurate these measurements actually are. For our part, we are simply surprised by what has come out,” says the Dutchman.
Red Bull proud of its performance as a newcomer
The situation therefore causes mixed feelings at Red Bull: pride in their own power unit, but also disappointment at the possibility of missing out on development opportunities.
“It’s probably a bit ambivalent at the moment, because from the outside you might say: Yes, that’s fantastic. But we’re just surprised because we don’t feel like we’re the best,” says Verstappen.
“I think what they’ve achieved is super impressive. If you look at it, we’re definitely not the worst out there, and it’s super impressive what they’ve put together in such a short time.”
“Of course, we still have some reliability issues. But overall, it’s honestly nice to be a part of it and to see the drive of the people and what they want to achieve. They are never satisfied, I am never satisfied either, but they aren’t either, and they are just as disappointed when things don’t go right,” Verstappen continues.
“So yes, in a way, we are proud, of course. We’re just a little confused that we’re suddenly being portrayed as the best, because we don’t feel that way.”
Read more F1 Live Ticker: Barcelona Training Sessions and Alpine Verdict