Discover how F1’s new performance index grants struggling manufacturers extra testing time and upgrades to bridge the horsepower gap against frontrunners like Red Bull and Mercedes.
Within the regulations of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship is the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system. This tool or system establishes four evaluation periods per year, and after every six races, the performance of the different power units is compared using a specific index.
Initially, the Miami Grand Prix, in early May, was to be the sixth race of the season, but the cancellation of the two races in the Middle East delayed this milestone until early June in Monaco, posing an obstacle for teams seeking to address their power disadvantage. It was recently confirmed by the FIA and F1 that the Indonesian Grand Prix in Sepang will replace Bahrain in October as a replacement, although the situation in Saudi Arabia remains to be resolved.
No major changes in engine performance are expected until after the Formula 1 summer break, once teams have had time to incorporate the changes established following the ADUO (Advanced Driver Development Opportunities). It was reported in the media that the FIA determined that the best-performing engine at the start of this season was Red Bull Racing's, not Mercedes.
What are the ADUO rules?
The system was created to give manufacturers who are at least 2% behind the most competitive engine in the field access to additional upgrade and development opportunities. The evaluation considers not only peak power but a broader performance index of the unit.
Normally, one upgrade per component is allowed per year; however, for those lagging behind, the regulations are more lenient. The system operates in several stages: if the difference is between 2% and 4%, the manufacturer can introduce one additional upgrade in both the current and following years.
If the gap exceeds 4%, the number of authorized upgrades doubles. In addition to extra parts, these teams have more time on the test bench and benefit from more flexible budget caps for engine development. The sense of urgency is particularly noticeable among the newcomers from Ingolstadt. Audi has publicly admitted that it suffers a considerable disadvantage in the power unit area and hopes to overcome it with the ADUO system.
For its part, Ferrari is also intensively evaluating the possibilities for further development. After the Chinese Grand Prix, Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur emphasized the need to take advantage of the ADUO updates to make up ground. However, closing the engine performance gap is complex, given that the lead times for obtaining components are much longer than those for chassis development.
Although the limit on the number of power unit components is expected to remain, despite the reduction from 24 to 22 races, a significant change in the planning of essential engine upgrades is anticipated.
