F1 / NEWS & CONTEXT

Red Bull team principal Mekies wants talks on ADUO rules

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is open to changes to the ADUO rules for engine development. The discussion concerns which manufacturers receive extra scope for development. Audi team principal Mattia Binotto warns that the system could also help a leading team, even though it is intended as a safety net.

GPBeat · Newsroom24 Sept 2026, 13:42 · 2 min

Mekies calls the ADUO rules imperfect and welcomes discussions on improving them. According to RacingNews365, he said this in Baku in response to a question about the evolution of the regulations ahead of 2027. In the article published on 24 September, he expresses his expectation that talks with the FIA and engine manufacturers will follow. No agreement to hold such talks is reported.

The competitive tension centres on the benchmark for extra scope for development. According to RacingNews365, Red Bull has been designated as the reference under ADUO, with only the performance of the internal combustion engine taken into account. At the same time, the outlet assesses that Mercedes appears to have the strongest complete package, including the battery. In that account, Red Bull's reference status therefore does not automatically mean that it also has the best complete power unit.

RacingNews365 also reports that Red Bull cannot introduce power unit updates for the time being, but does not specify which changes fall under that restriction. Mekies explicitly links his criticism to a practical task: his team must continue to perform as well as possible within the existing rules.

Binotto: safety net must help those lagging behind

In the same article, Audi team principal Mattia Binotto explains why he believes refinement is needed. According to his explanation, ADUO had two original aims: to prevent a manufacturer from remaining at a clear disadvantage for a prolonged period, and to narrow the performance gaps between manufacturers.

Binotto warns that the current implementation could also give a leading team extra scope for development. He finds that difficult to reconcile with those aims. He is describing a possible effect; in the cited passage, he does not name a team that has actually received such scope.

Binotto therefore does not want to abandon the basic concept, but to refine the details. The article does not set out which changes would be needed or when they should take effect.

Sources 01

SOURCERed Bull calls for change to controversial F1 ruleRacingNews365 Nederland · Source date as found: 2026-09-24

Source context

RacingNews365's article of 24 September 2026 is the only source. The statements and technical description have not been independently checked against original recordings, FIA documents or measurement data.

Claims and supporting evidence 7

According to RacingNews365 on 24 September 2026, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies is open to changes to the ADUO rules. In Baku, he calls the rules imperfect and expresses his expectation that talks with the FIA and engine manufacturers will follow. His answer follows a question about the development of ADUO in relation to the balance of engine performance for 2027.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Laurent Mekies' position on ADUO. Statements made in Baku, published on 24 September 2026; question concerning 2027. The statements are available only through RacingNews365. Mekies' expectation does not prove that talks are scheduled or that there is agreement on changes. His assertion that everyone considers the rules imperfect is not an independently established consensus.

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Mekies links his criticism to his team's task of performing as well as possible within the current rules. His call for change therefore does not mean that he rejects working under the existing regulations.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Mekies' attitude towards the existing rules. Statements published on 24 September 2026. This concerns his stated attitude, not an independently established assessment of Red Bull's compliance.

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RacingNews365 reports that Red Bull has been designated as the reference under ADUO and that only the performance of the internal combustion engine is taken into account. At the same time, the outlet assesses that Mercedes appears to have the strongest complete package, including the battery. Red Bull's reported reference status therefore does not necessarily indicate the best complete power unit.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. The technical background described by RacingNews365. The 2026 season, with the situation described on 24 September 2026. The reference status and measurement method are reported by the outlet but are not supported by an FIA document. The comparison with Mercedes is explicitly an assessment, not a demonstrated measurement result.

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According to RacingNews365, at the time of publication Red Bull cannot introduce power unit updates for the time being.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Reported development restriction for Red Bull. The provisional situation on 24 September 2026. The article does not specify which types of updates are covered, what exceptions exist or how long the restriction applies. This does not support a blanket or permanent ban on all changes to the power unit.

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Mattia Binotto, identified by RacingNews365 as Audi team principal, describes two original aims of ADUO: to provide a safety net for manufacturers at a clear disadvantage and to narrow the performance gaps between them. His reference to five seasons concerns preventing manufacturers from remaining stuck at a disadvantage for a prolonged period.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Mattia Binotto on the aims of ADUO. Statements published on 24 September 2026, looking back at the intention behind the regulations. This is Binotto's explanation of the aims. The original regulatory text has not been supplied; the five seasons are not a measured duration of an existing performance deficit.

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According to Binotto, as cited by RacingNews365, ADUO could produce a situation in which a leading team receives extra scope for development. He finds that difficult to reconcile with the aims of providing a safety net and narrowing performance gaps.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. Binotto's objection to a possible effect of ADUO. Assessment published on 24 September 2026. Binotto sets out a possible effect. He does not name a leading team in this passage or demonstrate a specific allocation of development scope.

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Binotto advocates talks with the FIA about refining ADUO, not abandoning the basic concept. He says the underlying principles remain intact and the details need to be adjusted.

This source finding must be read within the stated scope and source context. The scope of Binotto's call for change. Statements published on 24 September 2026. The source does not mention any specific changes that Binotto wants to introduce.

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This article was produced with AI assistance. Source references make its supporting evidence traceable.