FIA’s new rule misses its first target date
RacingNews365 technical analyst Paolo Filisetti has broken down which teams stand to gain from the FIA’s new Additional Development and Update Opportunities system, better known as ADUO.
The first round of ADUO will not be ready for the Miami Grand Prix, despite that being the original plan. The FIA introduced the system to help close the gap when one power unit manufacturer pulls clear of the field by more than 2%. Rather than forcing a full redesign, the rule allows affected manufacturers extra development budget and permission to make changes to existing power units.
That help is not handed out casually. ADUO is reviewed over a strict six-race window, with allocations originally due after the sixth, 12th and 18th grands prix. But after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races, the timeline shifted, and the FIA now has a revised schedule to work through.
The governing body has not yet published its official list of beneficiaries. Still, paddock talk at Suzuka pointed to three manufacturers most likely to qualify.
Mercedes appears to be the benchmark
Mercedes’ W17 seems to be the car setting the pace, which would put Ferrari, Audi and Aston Martin in line for ADUO support. Red Bull Powertrains, by contrast, appears to sit within the 2% performance window and would therefore miss out.
Among the teams in the frame, Ferrari has the strongest case. Early-season analysis of the SF-26 suggests its power unit is the main weakness compared with Mercedes’ W17, with clear deficits in energy deployment and maximum internal combustion engine output.
Maranello remains optimistic that focused power unit work, plus an aerodynamic upgrade package expected as early as Miami, can narrow the gap significantly.
That also makes Ferrari different from the other possible ADUO recipients. It is the only Mercedes challenger that appears capable of turning extra development allowance into a genuine fight on track, which is useful if the goal is, in fact, racing and not just spending more time in a wind tunnel with nicer paperwork.
Different teams, different problems
Aston Martin is dealing with a much tougher situation. Instead of hunting the front-runners, the Silverstone team is anchored near the back of the grid, with Honda’s power unit suffering from major pace issues and persistent vibration problems.
For Aston Martin, ADUO may not provide much immediate relief. The team is more likely to view 2026 as an extended test season, giving Honda room to make more fundamental changes before aiming for cleaner integration in the 2027 car.
Audi’s first year as a full works manufacturer has also brought its share of complications, but the Mattia Binotto-led team looks well placed to make the most of any ADUO advantages over the course of the season.
Unlike Ferrari, Audi is not trying to jump straight to the front. Its priority is to consolidate performance and build from there, which happens to fit neatly with its current development needs.
In the short term, the regulation may not transform the championship picture. Ferrari is the one Mercedes rival that seems to have both the need for help and the ability to turn that help into real progress.
Red Bull’s likely exclusion from the scheme, pending official FIA confirmation, reflects the RB22’s comparatively strong power unit performance. The team’s bigger headaches are elsewhere, with weight distribution, vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic balance posing more urgent challenges than outright engine performance.
