F1's shock Red Bull/Mercedes engine ruling explained
6/10/20261 hr
In the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, we discuss the news that Red Bull has been declared Formula 1's best engine under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, meaning that rivals Mercedes and Ferrari will both get engine upgrades during the 2026 season. Given the Mercedes power unit is considered the standard-setter and the Mercedes team has won every grand prix this year, the decision has understandably baffled a lot of people - so what exactly is going on? Edd Straw is joined by Mark Hughes and Scott Mitchell-Malm to unpick everything we know.
Edd, Mark and Scott also discuss the driving style problems George Russell referenced in Monaco, and ask whether he could see an upturn in his fortunes in Barcelona this weekend. There's also a host of listener questions to answer, with topics ranging from whether McLaren have a power unit issue brewing to whether Alex Albon should leave Williams for pastures new.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsEdd Straw· Host0:00
[upbeat music] The Athletic. [upbeat music] The race is on, and with the world confused by the Mercedes engine being declared the second-best in F1, we ask why it's getting upgrade breaks, and explain what's behind the driving style problems George Russell referenced during the Monaco weekend. I'm Ed Straw, and joining me to tell all are Mark Hughes and Scott Mitchell-Malm. Well, Scott, I'm calling this podcast Much ADO About Nothing because I like a pun, but, uh, it's not really nothing, is it? So let's get straight into it because ADO, of course, is Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, to those not on first name terms. The FIA has ruled that the Red Bull Ford engine is the best in Formula One, and that means Mercedes, because it's deemed to be more than 2% off, is getting the chance to introduce its upgrades, one this year, one next year. Now, everybody will be listening to this thinking, "Well, the Mercedes power unit is the standard setter, and Mercedes has won all the races." So that's baffled a lot of people [laughs]. So what is going on?
Scott Mitchell-Malm· Host1:11
It's not just the people that'll be listening to this podcast as well, it's in the, uh, it's, it's inside the, the, the paddock. It has prompted, uh, a significant amount of, uh, confus- confusion to say the least, and I suspect it'll be very interesting to hear what people have to say, uh, off the record, much less