Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has appealed to the FIA to ensure that the regulations allowing power unit manufacturers to upgrade their engines during the 2026 season do not interfere with the current pecking order in Formula 1. The new power unit regulations include a performance-balancing measure that enables manufacturers trailing the leader by a certain margin to develop their engines. This measure, known as Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO), will be implemented in three stages throughout the season, with manufacturers that are at least two percent behind the best-performing internal combustion engine eligible for development opportunities.
The FIA is expected to provide further clarification on the implementation of these rules ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Wolff emphasized the importance of transparency and precision in the decision-making process, stating that the ADUO mechanism should allow teams to catch up, not leapfrog their competitors. With Mercedes dominating the early stages of the season, their self-manufactured engine is likely to be the benchmark for other teams to catch up with.
However, Wolff suggested that only one power unit manufacturer, Honda, which supplies Aston Martin, needs assistance. The Mercedes team principal expressed his hope that the FIA would make decisions that protect the integrity of the sport and prevent any interference with the competitive pecking order.