Toto Wolff and Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies both acknowledged that Mercedes holds the most powerful power unit in F1 after the 2026 F1 Belgian GP. The admission arrived at a significant moment, with the second ADUO monitoring period set to close at the Hungarian GP this weekend.
Wolff made the admission while addressing the reliability issues that have cost Mercedes heavily this season. Mekies then added pointed context about what the straight-line advantage has meant on track. Both agreed the numbers speak for themselves.
Wolff acknowledges Mercedes power unit advantage after the 2026 F1 Belgian GP
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the 2026 Belgian GP, Wolff confirmed a power issue across the Mercedes cars had cost George Russell significant straight-line speed throughout the weekend. The problem ultimately contributed to Russell’s race retirement.
“We had an issue on all Mercedes engines that we lacked the power on the straight and that beat him badly, it 100% goes on us,” he stated.
“We’re trying our best as a team, we have the most powerful power unit, we have a strong car that is capable of winning, everybody gives its maximum to minimise the mistakes and still it happens because we are humans at work.”
Despite the pace advantage, Wolff acknowledged that reliability has repeatedly let the team down this season.
“We let Kimi [Antonelli] down in Silverstone where George got a podium that was maybe better than the result should have been, and then one DNF’d in Montreal, the other one DNF’d in Barcelona, that’s a little bit the story of our season here. It’s a technical sport, mechanical sport,” Wolff stated.
Mekies backs Wolff ahead of ADUO deadline
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies did not hesitate when told of Wolff’s admission after the F1 Belgian GP. Mekies agreed with the assessment and hinted at what the approaching ADUO deadline could mean for both teams.
“Toto is right. I also think that they have the most powerful power unit,” Mekies stated in a print media session. “And certainly they had a sizeable advantage on the straight this weekend again.
“But it’s not the first weekend. They have an advantage on the straight most weekends. And this weekend a bit more with the track sensitivity. So we will see what’s happening. As you said, the second period closing in Budapest in a week’s time. We’ll see what’s happening,” he conluded.
The second ADUO period began at Monaco and closes at the Hungarian GP next weekend. The first period placed Red Bull-Ford Powertrains at the top of the V6 standings, with Mercedes trailing by 2-4%. Results from both periods are yet to be officially published, meaning the FIA’s findings after Budapest could reshape the power unit picture heading into the second half of the season.
