Red Bull addresses Verstappen contract and FIA technical issues

Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies has provided insights into Max Verstappen’s contract extension through 2030, noting that the driver’s decision was driven by the team’s long-term development direction rather than recent technical upgrades. Verstappen had reportedly considered retirement before committing to the squad following a challenging start to the season.

Technical issues also surfaced during the Malaysian Grand Prix, where a shared FIA software error caused several cars, including those from Red Bull, to lose power during formation laps. The FIA is working with teams to manage the increasing complexity of modern F1 cars and has promised improved code testing to prevent similar incidents in future wet-weather races.

Additionally, Red Bull is lobbying the FIA to revise the Additional Development and Update Opportunities (ADUO) system for 2027. The team argues the current methodology, which uses internal combustion engine performance as a benchmark, does not accurately reflect the total performance of hybrid power units, leading to unexpected development token allocations.