F1 2026: Final ADUO Results Reveal No Changes

There were many reasons why and how Mercedes won the Constructors' Championship this season, but apparently, their engine might not be one of them.

The FIA has completed its third and final Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) assessment, and the results remain intact. Red Bull-Ford remains the benchmark Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Mercedes 2-4% behind. The other power unit manufacturers, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda, are more than 4% behind.

The third round of ADUO assessment covered a seven-race period from the Dutch Grand Prix last August 23 to the Mexican Grand Prix last November 1.

As a result of the final ADUO assessment, Red Bull won't receive additional upgrades in 2026 and 2027. Here's a list of allocations for each team:

Take note that these additional opportunities are on top of the normal development framework. They aren't the manufacturers' entire upgrade allowances.

Remember, ADUO only ranks the combustion engine. Today's era of hybrid engines means that the electrical side also plays a big role in overall power. So Red Bull being named the benchmark ICE doesn't mean it has the best complete package. 

If anything, it could be Mercedes that packs the best overall package. Many insiders believe that they have the most complete power unit once the electrical performance is included.

There could be a number of reasons why Mercedes is winning on the battery side. They might have the most efficient energy deployment, and their chassis might be working very well with the engine.

Plus, Mercedes might have the drivers who are excellent at exploiting these energy characteristics. A champion driver like Kimi Antonelli isn't just quick. The young Italian driver won the Drivers' Championship this season because of his adaptability skills, something that has been very important for Formula 1 drivers in the first year of the new regulations.

Moreover, 2027 will give us a much better indication of whether the manufacturers that received additional developments can translate it into a genuine performance boost.