Formula 1’s governing body announced that the third and final review period of the 2026 season did not warrant any additional upgrade opportunities for power unit manufacturers. The FIA conducted its assessment covering races from round 12 in Hungary through round 18 in the United States, finding that performance gaps had shifted but not sufficiently to trigger new homologations.
Formula 1 introduced the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system at the start of the 2026 season to enable less competitive engine manufacturers to narrow performance deficits. The first review period, encompassing the opening five races, determined that Mercedes held a 2-4 percent disadvantage compared to the best-performing engine and received one upgrade opportunity for 2026 plus another for 2027. Ferrari, Audi, and Honda were found to be more than four percent behind and were therefore granted two upgrade opportunities for this season and two additional ones for the following year. The second review period similarly resulted in no additional upgrades being distributed.
The FIA maintained confidentiality regarding specific power unit performance metrics, stating only that relative gaps to the leading internal combustion engine had evolved during the third period. Analysis suggests that Red Bull has not fallen below the two-percent threshold that would trigger further upgrades for competitors, and Mercedes has not declined beyond the four-percent mark. The confidential nature of the assessment prevents public disclosure of detailed performance index measurements.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s director of single seater racing, expressed confidence in the review process and assessment conclusions. He indicated that the ADUO concept has proven effective in its first year of implementation and emphasized the importance of continuing to refine the system’s methodology to maintain its efficiency and relevance in future seasons. The FIA stated it has been collaborating with power unit manufacturers and teams to explore potential refinements that will enhance the system’s ongoing effectiveness.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI