Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing say Mercedes leads F1 power
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted after the Belgian Grand Prix that his team has Formula 1's most powerful power unit — and Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies agreed. The comments renew focus on the FIA's ADUO ranking, which still lists Red Bull-Ford as the V6 benchmark despite Mercedes' straightline edge.
Key Takeaways
- Toto Wolff said Mercedes has "the most powerful power unit" after Spa reliability issues hurt George Russell.
- Red Bull Racing's Laurent Mekies agreed Mercedes held a sizeable straightline advantage again in Belgium.
- The FIA's first ADUO period ranked Red Bull-Ford top; a second window closes after the Hungarian GP.
- Max Verstappen said the "best engine" label "doesn't really look like it" in qualifying.
What did Toto Wolff and Red Bull Racing say after Spa?
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff linked Mercedes' straightline problem for George Russell to a team-wide engine issue, then made a blunt admission: the squad has the most powerful power unit and a car capable of winning.
When told of that comment, Red Bull Racing principal Laurent Mekies backed it without hesitation. "Toto is right. I also think that they have the most powerful power unit," he said, pointing to Mercedes' sizeable Spa straight advantage and noting it is not limited to one weekend.
Mekies also flagged that the second ADUO period is closing in Budapest next week, keeping pressure on how the FIA's next assessment lands. Fans following the power-unit row can catch related race coverage via our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why does the FIA ADUO ranking still matter?
ADUO — Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities — has become one of the political flashpoints of the new F1 era. The FIA assessed the V6 alone and placed Red Bull-Ford Powertrains as the grid benchmark, not Mercedes, a result that surprised much of the paddock.
According to Motorsport.com, that first period left Mercedes trailing by about 2–4%, entitling it to one extra upgrade this year and another next season. Ferrari, Audi and Honda were judged more than 4% behind and can take two upgrades each season.
Red Bull has accepted it cannot change those results but remains adamant Mercedes is stronger, and it worries rivals can upgrade while its V6 is held as the ADUO reference. Official first-period results have still not been published amid Red Bull's review.
Does Max Verstappen believe Red Bull has the best engine?
Verstappen finished third at Spa behind Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Asked about wanting an engine upgrade, he said he would love one but it is not in his hands.
Told the FIA still rates Red Bull's unit as the fastest under ADUO, the four-time champion replied that it is "meant to be," yet qualifying "doesn't really look like it." The second ADUO window, which began from Monaco, ends at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with results expected within about two weeks — and all eyes on whether Mercedes finally tops the pile.