Key Highlights
- The FIA’s final 2026 ADUO review grants no additional upgrades to any Formula 1 power unit manufacturer.
- Red Bull Ford Powertrains remains the benchmark, while Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda retain their existing upgrade allowances.
- The next ADUO assessment will cover the opening six races of the 2027 season, from the Bahrain Grand Prix to the Miami Grand Prix.
FIA Confirms No Changes to 2026 F1 Engine Upgrade Allowances
The FIA has published its final Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) assessment for the 2026 Formula 1 season, confirming that no power unit manufacturer will gain or lose upgrade concessions. The decision follows the third and final analysis of the season, which used engine data collected from the Dutch Grand Prix through to and including the United States Grand Prix.
Formula 1 introduced ADUO into its regulations for 2026 to allow manufacturers that fall behind the leading internal combustion engine to make targeted power unit updates. The system uses a performance-based scale to determine how many development opportunities each manufacturer receives.
After the first assessment period, which ran from the Australian Grand Prix to the Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull Ford Powertrains was identified as the benchmark manufacturer. Mercedes was assessed as being between 2% and 4% behind the leading internal combustion engine, giving the German manufacturer one additional upgrade opportunity in 2026 and another in 2027.
Red Bull Ford Powertrains Remains the Benchmark
Ferrari, Audi and Honda were placed more than 4% behind the leading internal combustion engine. As a result, each manufacturer was granted two upgrade opportunities during the 2026 campaign and two more in 2027. Red Bull Ford Powertrains, by contrast, has effectively operated under an engine freeze while its rivals have been able to introduce power unit upgrades.
Red Bull Ford Powertrains requested a review of the initial ADUO analysis, delaying the official publication of the first results. The manufacturer disputed both the assessment itself and its classification as the producer of the strongest engine.
Under the agreement reached by the teams before the season began, the FIA measures only internal combustion engine performance when determining ADUO eligibility. Once a manufacturer qualifies for the system, however, it can also modify electrical components, including the battery and MGU-K.
FIA Defends ADUO Assessment Process
The FIA said there was also no change during the second ADUO assessment period over the summer. Although the relative performance gaps to the leading internal combustion engine shifted during the third period, those changes did not alter the manufacturers’ existing allocations.
“For the third period, the relative performance gaps to the leading ICE evolved, but these changes did not result in any additional homologations being granted to the Power Unit Manufacturers,” an FIA report stated.
Questions remain over how ADUO performance differences should be measured. The FIA is therefore open to modifying the system in the future, subject to approval from the power unit manufacturers. FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said the organization remains confident in the reliability of the first season’s process.
“The FIA has undertaken extensive analysis as part of the review of ADUO this year. Based on the quality of the data and the robustness of the assessment process, we are confident in our findings and the conclusions reached,” Tombazis said.
“The first year of implementation has also reinforced our belief that the ADUO concept is the right one for Formula 1.
“However, it is important that the system continues to evolve to ensure it remains efficient, relevant and fit for purpose. To that end, we have been working closely with the power unit manufacturers and teams to explore refinements to the methodology that will support the continued effectiveness of ADUO in future seasons.”
Why This Matters
The final 2026 ruling preserves the current competitive framework for Formula 1 power units. Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda retain the upgrade opportunities already assigned to them, while Red Bull Ford Powertrains remains unable to use ADUO concessions unless a future assessment changes its status. The FIA’s willingness to review the methodology also indicates that the system may be refined as manufacturers and teams gain more experience with its operation.
The next ADUO period will begin in 2027 and cover the first six races of that season, from the Bahrain Grand Prix through the Miami Grand Prix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did any F1 power unit manufacturer receive additional upgrades after the final 2026 ADUO review?
No. The FIA confirmed that the final assessment produced no changes, so no manufacturer gained or lost its current upgrade concessions.
Which manufacturers have 2026 ADUO upgrade opportunities?
Mercedes has one additional upgrade opportunity for 2026, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda each have two. Red Bull Ford Powertrains remains the benchmark manufacturer and has effectively faced an engine freeze.
When will the next ADUO assessment take place?
The next ADUO period will take place during the opening six races of the 2027 Formula 1 season, from the Bahrain Grand Prix to the Miami Grand Prix.
