Max Verstappen highlights Red Bull-Mercedes anomaly: 'It's two different things'

Max Verstappen has addressed the perceived advantage of Red Bull's internal combustion engine (ICE) over competitors, particularly Mercedes. He noted that while the FIA has rated Red Bull's ICE as the best in Formula 1, this assessment does not account for total hybrid output, which includes battery performance. Verstappen pointed out that Mercedes may deploy similar power levels, indicating that focusing solely on ICE metrics can be misleading.

Verstappen's comments come after Red Bull contested the FIA's findings, with team boss Laurent Mekies asserting that their telemetry does not support claims of a significant advantage. Verstappen emphasized the need for Red Bull to improve in all aspects of their performance, including the engine and battery, acknowledging that development is an ongoing process that requires time and effort.