WHAT WAS BEHIND RED BULL CEO'S MEETING WITH FIA PRESIDENT

Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff met FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Paris, pushing for answers after the FIA controversially judged Red Bull to have Formula 1's benchmark engine. This ranking, based on Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO), stunned Red Bull, who internally estimate their Internal Combustion Engine is 0.2-0.3s slower than Mercedes. The team finds the FIA's finding that Mercedes is 2% adrift baffling.

Red Bull's top brass is demanding a detailed explanation, questioning the accuracy of data from torque sensors used to monitor power levels. The FIA has agreed to review data from the season's first five races. If Red Bull remains the benchmark, they face long-term restrictions on engine upgrades while rivals can still improve their overall package elsewhere. Mercedes, conversely, fully backs the FIA's data, with Toto Wolff calling it a fair assessment. The controversy has sparked calls to rethink ADUO, though Wolff strongly rejects any move towards a Balance of Performance system. The FIA’s review will dictate Red Bull’s immediate power unit development and could reshape future F1 engine regulations.