The FIA has confirmed the results of the first two Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) assessment periods for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with no Power Unit manufacturer receiving any additional homologation upgrades following the second review.
ADUO was introduced for the 2026 regulations as a mechanism designed to help manufacturers whose Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) performance falls significantly behind the benchmark. Rather than acting as a traditional Balance of Performance system, the mechanism gives eligible manufacturers additional opportunities to develop their power units, alongside increased Cost Cap and dyno testing allowances.
The FIA evaluates the ICE performance of each manufacturer during three defined periods of the season. The assessment is based on an ICE Performance Index incorporating factors including input shaft torque, engine speed, MGU-K power and the impact of power sensitivity on lap time.
A manufacturer becomes eligible for ADUO when its ICE Performance Index is at least 2% behind the best-performing ICE.
Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Honda benefited from first review
The first ADUO assessment period was originally intended to cover the opening six races of the season. However, changes to the 2026 calendar resulting from the disruption in the Middle East meant that the period was adjusted to cover the first five races, ending with the Canadian Grand Prix.
The FIA subsequently confirmed that Mercedes fell within the 2-4% performance deficit window. As a result, the German manufacturer was granted one additional homologation opportunity for 2026 and another for 2027.
Audi, Ferrari and Honda were found to be more than 4% behind the leading ICE during the first assessment period. They therefore received two additional homologation opportunities for 2026 and two more for 2027.
All four manufacturers also received corresponding increases to their Cost Cap and dyno testing allowances.
No manufacturer qualifies after the Hungarian Grand Prix
The second ADUO review covered races six through 11, from the Monaco Grand Prix through to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Following its analysis, the FIA confirmed that no Power Unit manufacturer was granted any additional homologation upgrades during the second period.
The governing body has not disclosed the individual performance figures behind its decision, citing the confidential nature of the data and the intellectual property of the manufacturers.
This means that none of the manufacturers accumulated a new set of ADUO upgrade opportunities as a result of the second review.
The FIA has nevertheless stressed that its analysis was extensive and that it has a high level of confidence in the results.
“The FIA has undertaken thorough and exhaustive analysis as part of our ADUO review process,” FIA Director of Single Seater Nikolas Tombazis said. “With the release of the findings of period 2, we are confident that, based on the quality of the data, its analysis is incredibly robust, giving us a high level of confidence in our findings.”
Tombazis added that 2026 is the first season in which ADUO has been implemented, meaning that some aspects of the system could be refined in future years through discussions with the Power Unit manufacturers.
What exactly does ADUO allow?
ADUO is not designed to artificially equalise performance on track. Manufacturers do not receive additional fuel flow, ballast adjustments or other direct performance advantages.
Instead, the system provides additional financial and development freedom to manufacturers that are sufficiently behind the leading ICE.
A manufacturer between 2% and 4% behind the best-performing ICE receives one additional homologation opportunity in the current season and another in the following season.
If the deficit is at least 4%, the manufacturer receives two additional upgrades in the current season and two more in the following campaign.
The financial allowances also increase according to the size of the performance gap. Manufacturers between 2% and 4% behind can receive up to $3 million outside their Cost Cap calculation, while the allowance rises to $4.65 million for a 4-6% deficit, $6.35 million for 6-8%, and $8 million for 8-10%.
For a manufacturer at least 10% behind, the allowance can reach $11 million per ADUO period. In 2026 only, such a manufacturer could also bring forward up to $8 million of Cost Cap allowance from future periods.
Upgrades are not limited to the ICE
Although ICE performance determines whether a manufacturer qualifies for ADUO, the additional upgrades themselves are not restricted solely to the combustion engine.
The regulations allow eligible manufacturers to make changes to a broad range of Power Unit components, including certain ICE elements, the exhaust system, turbocharger and wastegate or pop-off systems.
Eligible areas can also include electrical components and sensors mounted to the ICE or exhaust, the Energy Recovery System and its cooling systems, the MGU-K and Control Electronics. Certain hydraulic functions, fluids and ballast are also covered by the regulations.
This gives manufacturers considerable freedom in deciding where additional development resources can have the greatest performance impact.
The opportunities are not simply carried over
ADUO upgrades are also subject to strict timing rules. Additional homologation opportunities granted for a particular season must be used during that season. Any unused opportunity expires at the end of the relevant campaign and cannot simply be carried over indefinitely.
There is, however, an important exception when opportunities for the following season are awarded. If a manufacturer qualifies for ADUO again in the subsequent season, unused opportunities awarded from the previous year's assessment can potentially be combined with the new allocation.
This means that a manufacturer could, under the regulations, introduce four upgrades in a single season if it received two opportunities from the previous year's ADUO assessment and another two from a new assessment.
Final 2026 assessment still to come
The second review may not have produced any new opportunities, but the ADUO process is not yet complete for 2026. The third and final assessment period will cover races 12 through 18, beginning with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and ending with the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The results of that review will determine whether any manufacturer falls at least 2% behind the leading ICE and therefore qualifies for additional development opportunities.
For Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Honda, the first-period allowances remain available according to the rules governing their respective 2026 and 2027 allocations. No new allowances were added after Period 2.
The final assessment will therefore be closely watched, particularly as manufacturers continue to develop their 2026 power units and the competitive picture evolves during the second half of the season.
With ADUO being introduced for the first time this year, its final 2026 review will also provide an important indication of how effective the new system is at giving struggling manufacturers additional development freedom without turning Formula 1 into a conventional Balance of Performance championship.
- Balazs Szabouu
