Red Bull is urging the FIA to revisit the first round of Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) results, having been positioned at the top of the ranking after the Monaco Grand Prix.
Red Bull Demands a Fresh FIA Audit
Following the FIA’s disclosure to all manufacturers—yet without a public announcement—the Red Bull team has requested a comprehensive check of the data that underpin the current ADUO standings. The review is intended as a factual verification of sensor readings and data points to ensure the integrity of the ICE power assessment.
Methodology and Token Allocation
Although the ADUO mechanisms allow teams to use tokens on battery systems and the MGU‑K, the metrics currently rely solely on internal combustion engine (ICE) output. Laurent Mekies of Red Bull clarified that the team’s main issue is not the limited scope of measurement, but confidence in the accuracy of the ICE data that determined the token allotments: Red Bull receives one token, Mercedes one, while Ferrari, Audi, and Honda each receive two.
Mekies cited spring‑2025 discussions where all parties agreed to keep the assessment formula simple, focusing only on ICE power. Nikolas Tombazis, FIA single‑seater director, admitted that he could have accommodated more complex parameters, but consensus favored a straightforward approach.
Performance Data Aligns with ICE Sensitivity
Red Bull argues that on‑track results from Canada, Monaco, and Barcelona reflect the reported ICE sensitivity. At Canadian GP, where ICE sensitivity was high, the team qualified eighth; in Monaco, known for low ICE influence, it was within 0.04s of pole; in Barcelona, again a high‑ICE‑sensitivity circuit, it retained the eighth spot. These figures do not show any single data sample indicating that Red Bull outperforms Mercedes.
Red Bull highlights that should the FIA’s figures remain unchanged, Mercedes could postpone deploying its token until a later assessment or allocate it to the electrical side of the power unit, thereby maintaining Red Bull’s position at the top of the ranking. Mekies stressed the need for absolute certainty before any final decisions with far‑reaching consequences are made.
The current situation underscores the tension between the desire for more granular data and the necessity for a clear, agreed‑upon metric in scoring ADUO tokens.
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