FIA confirms no new power unit upgrades for 2026 Formula 1 season

The FIA has finalized the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) rules for the 2026 Formula 1 season, confirming that no power unit manufacturer will receive additional homologation opportunities. The third and final evaluation period covered races 12 through 18, concluding after the United States Grand Prix last month. Although the governing body noted that relative performance gaps to the leading internal combustion engine evolved during this window, these changes were insufficient to warrant further development tokens. Consequently, all current concessions remain unchanged, leaving Red Bull Ford Powertrains as the sole benchmark holder without any rivals gaining new upgrade slots. This outcome follows a similar result in the second review period, which ended after the Hungarian Grand Prix, where no manufacturers qualified for extra work.

Performance benchmarks and cost implications

The initial ADUO assessment ran from the Australian Grand Prix to the Canadian Grand Prix and established the baseline for the entire campaign. Red Bull Ford Powertrains emerged as the top-performing unit, setting the standard against which all other engines were measured. Mercedes was found to be between 2% and 4% behind this benchmark, granting them one additional upgrade opportunity for the current year and another for the following season. Ferrari, Audi, and Honda were assessed as being more than 4% behind on internal combustion engine power, which entitles them to two extra homologations per season. These teams can also modify electrical components like the battery and MGU-K once they qualify under the system. A separate rule change in May allowed any manufacturer 10% off the leading design to spend more money, a move expected to assist Honda after their poor start.

Red Bull Ford Powertrains requested a review of the first analysis, disputing the results and delaying the official publication of the findings. Despite this challenge, the Milton Keynes-based team faces an effective engine freeze because they do not qualify for ADUO benefits. Meanwhile, their rivals have installed power unit upgrades across the season, creating a significant competitive disparity. The FIA only measures the internal combustion engine for qualification purposes, but the ability to update electrical systems gives trailing teams a distinct advantage in closing the gap. This structural imbalance has drawn comparisons to the World Endurance Championship’s Balance of Performance regulations, which have faced heavy criticism in recent years.

Future refinements and next steps

FIA Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis defended the ADUO concept, stating that the first year of implementation reinforced its value for the sport. "Based on the quality of the data and the robustness of the assessment process, we are confident in our findings and the conclusions reached," he said. He acknowledged that the system must continue to evolve to remain efficient and relevant for future seasons. To that end, the FIA is working closely with power unit manufacturers and teams to explore refinements to the methodology. Given the dispute over how ADUO is measured, the governing body remains open to changes, subject to approval from the manufacturers.

The next ADUO review period will begin in Bahrain and conclude in Miami, covering the opening six races of the upcoming season. This timeline allows the FIA to gather fresh data before making any adjustments to the token distribution scale. Manufacturers who currently hold extra upgrades will retain those benefits unless their performance improves significantly relative to the new benchmark. The lack of changes in the final 2026 review suggests that the initial performance hierarchy remained stable throughout the latter half of the year. As the sport moves forward, the focus shifts to whether the proposed methodological tweaks will address the concerns raised by teams regarding the measurement criteria.