The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has officially confirmed that Mercedes has been allowed to introduce upgrades to its power unit, despite strong objections from rival teams, most notably Red Bull Racing. This decision forms part of the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) framework that the sport’s governing body introduced alongside the rollout of brand‑new engines for the 2026 season. The ADUO system was designed to give manufacturers a structured way to close any performance gaps that emerge during the life of the current technical regulations, ensuring that no team is permanently disadvantaged by an early‑season power‑unit shortfall. In June, after the first five races of the 2023 campaign, the FIA completed its initial performance assessment.
The review concluded that Red Bull’s power unit was the benchmark for the season, while Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda were lagging by a margin that fell within the two‑to‑four‑percent window defined by the ADUO rules. Consequently, those four manufacturers were each granted the right to submit one additional homologation for 2026 and a second one for 2027, together with a modest increase in their cost‑cap allowance and dyno‑testing budget. The FIA kept the details of its findings under wraps, but a leaked document and public statements from team principals and drivers confirmed the outcome.
The decision sparked controversy across the paddock. Mercedes, which had dominated the opening six Grand Prix races, was now permitted to improve its engine even though it already appeared to be the strongest on the grid. By contrast, Red Bull, which had managed only a single podium finish in that same period, faced the prospect of falling further behind if the upgrades from its rivals proved decisive. Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s lead driver, publicly criticised the ruling, arguing that it unfairly penalised the team that had been delivering the best results on paper.
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff questioned the transparency of the FIA’s process, insisting that his outfit possessed "the most powerful power unit" and deserved clarity on how the assessments were conducted. After a second assessment period that concluded with the Hungarian Grand Prix—right before the summer hiatus—the FIA released its final statements for both review windows. For the first period, the body reiterated that Mercedes fell within the two‑to‑four‑percent performance gap and would receive one extra homologation in each of the next two seasons.
Audi, Ferrari and Honda were judged to be more than four percent off the pace and therefore earned two additional homologations for both 2026 and 2027, along with the corresponding cost‑cap and testing allowances. The second period, however, delivered a harsher verdict for Red Bull.
The FIA announced that no further homologations would be granted to any power‑unit manufacturer for the upcoming cycle. This effectively means that Red Bull’s engine remained within two percent of the leading unit, preserving its status as the top‑performing power plant, while the other manufacturers would have to rely on the upgrades already approved in the first window. Had any of the other teams demonstrated a performance jump that overtook Red Bull since June, the British‑based squad could have earned its own upgrade, but the data did not support such a scenario.
Current championship standings underscore the competitive implications of the ADUO rulings. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers’ table, ahead of teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by a combined 59 points, while Verstappen trails the Italian by a substantial 130 points, sitting in sixth place. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes enjoys an 87‑point cushion over Ferrari, with McLaren—powered by a Mercedes engine—climbing to third after Lando Norris secured back‑to‑back victories in the most recent races.
Although Mercedes has been authorized to apply its 2026 upgrade since the June announcement, the team has not yet implemented the changes on track. Ferrari, Audi and Honda are believed to have each introduced one of their two allotted upgrades for the upcoming season, but the full impact of these modifications remains to be seen as the ADUO process continues.
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA’s director of single‑seater motorsport, emphasized the rigor of the analysis that underpins the ADUO decisions. He stated that the organisation had conducted a "thorough and exhaustive" review, and that the quality of the data gave the FIA a high degree of confidence in its conclusions.
Tombazis also highlighted the need to protect the confidentiality and intellectual property of the teams, noting that the ADUO framework is still in its inaugural year and may evolve in consultation with all power‑unit manufacturers. The third ADUO review window opened at the Dutch Grand Prix and will run through to the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1.
This ongoing evaluation will continue to monitor the relative performance of each manufacturer’s power unit, potentially opening the door for further upgrades if a significant disparity emerges. Looking ahead, Formula 1 will head to Monza for the iconic Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race, from September 4‑6.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime service. Fans can also stay up to date via the official F1 Show podcast and receive real‑time updates through Sky Sports on WhatsApp. The evolving ADUO landscape adds another layer of intrigue to the remainder of the season, as teams balance on‑track performance with strategic development decisions under the watchful eye of the FIA.