Max Verstappen Explains Red Bull-Mercedes Engine Power Gap

Max Verstappen has offered an explanation for the apparent gap between Red Bull and Mercedes in Formula 1's internal combustion engine performance, arguing that the FIA's assessment does not tell the full story of the power units.

The FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) assessments have placed Red Bull-Ford Powertrains as the benchmark manufacturer for ICE performance during the early stages of the 2026 season.

Mercedes was assessed to be between two and four per cent behind Red Bull on ICE power, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda were measured beyond that threshold. The findings have also affected the manufacturers' eligibility for additional development opportunities.

However, Red Bull has disputed the FIA's assessment. Team principal Laurent Mekies previously said the team's own telemetry did not show an advantage over Mercedes.

"We certainly would like to have a deeper conversation because we do not see one single data sample that indicates that we would have an advantage over our friends at Mercedes," Mekies said.

Max Verstappen points to the battery

Verstappen believes the apparent discrepancy can be explained by the fact that the FIA assessment only measures the internal combustion engine and not the complete hybrid system.

"The thing is, you have the measurement of the engine, the ICE, and not the battery, right? So it's two different things," Verstappen said.

The four-time world champion suggested that Red Bull may have an advantage from its combustion engine while Mercedes could be stronger when it comes to electrical deployment.

"At the end of the day, they [Mercedes] almost deploy the same amount of power. If you only measure one thing, maybe we are very good on the ICE side, and then maybe not as strong on the battery side compared to Mercedes. It's very hard to know," he added.

Red Bull still looking for gains

Rather than treating the FIA assessment as proof of an overall power-unit advantage, Verstappen said Red Bull still has work to do across its entire package.

"We just have to do a better job," he said.

"We will just keep working, keep trying to be better in every aspect, of course, car, engine, battery, all of that."

With the 2026 regulations placing a significantly greater emphasis on hybrid power, Verstappen believes development across both sides of the power unit will remain an ongoing process.

"It's an ongoing development process we have to work on, but it takes time."