Mekies backs Wolff’s power-unit claim after Belgian Grand Prix

Red Bull accepts Mercedes’ straight-line advantage

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has offered an unexpectedly direct response to Toto Wolff’s claim that Mercedes has Formula 1’s most powerful power unit, made after the Belgian Grand Prix.

“We had an issue on all Mercedes engines that we lacked power out on the straight, and that bit him badly,” Wolff told Sky F1. “It’s 100% on us, but you know we’re trying our best as a team. We have the most powerful power unit.”

The remark attracted attention because an FIA ruling earlier this year under the ADUO, or Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, system declared Red Bull’s engine to be the strongest in the field. That decision restricted Red Bull from carrying out further development on the engine during the current year.

While ADUO applies only to the combustion engine, Red Bull has repeatedly expressed surprise at the ruling. Wolff’s wording referred to the power unit as a whole, leaving room for a distinction between the two statements, but it still prompted a response from Mekies.

Mekies: Mercedes has the edge at Spa

Speaking to media, Mekies agreed with Wolff’s assessment rather than challenging it.

“I think Toto is right,” Mekies said. “I also think they have the most powerful power unit.”

The Red Bull principal also pointed to the visible performance difference on Spa’s long straights, suggesting that Mercedes’ advantage was not limited to a single session or an isolated circumstance.

“Certainly they had a sizeable advantage on the straight this weekend again,” Mekies added. “But it’s not the first weekend, they have an advantage on the straight most weekends. This weekend, it was a bit more with the track sensitivity.”

That assessment provides a clear competitive reading of the Belgian weekend: Mercedes may have struggled to deliver its available performance consistently, but Red Bull still regarded its straight-line capability as a recurring strength. The full race context is covered in our review of the key moments from the unpredictable Belgian Grand Prix.

Mekies ended by looking ahead to the next point of comparison, noting that the second period would close in Budapest the following week. “We’ll see what’s happening,” he said.