The Japanese giant could benefit from additional concessions in order to regain performance competitiveness
F1 needs all manufacturers to be competitive
The 2026 Formula 1 power unit regulations were always expected to produce significant performance gaps and potential competitive imbalances, but few would have predicted that the most concerning situation would once again involve Honda. As already happened in 2015, the Japanese manufacturer currently finds itself far from competitive, to the point that other competitors are now considering regulatory changes designed to help it recover as quickly as possible.
According to reports from The-Race.com, there is ongoing discussion about modifying the ADUO regulation framework — the system specifically designed to assist struggling engine manufacturers — in order to give Honda additional opportunities to close the performance gap. The reasoning behind this is that it benefits no one in Formula 1 if one of the participants remains significantly uncompetitive over a long period of time.
At present, the ADUO system is based on two performance deficit thresholds, set at 2% and 4% compared to the benchmark power unit. Manufacturers falling within the first bracket are allowed one major development upgrade for 2026 and one for 2027. Those in the second bracket are granted two upgrades during the current season and an additional two for the following year.
What is now being discussed is a possible revision of these limits so that any manufacturer facing a significant performance disadvantage is not overly restricted in its ability to recover. If Honda were unable to fall within the 4% improvement window during the second half of the season, for example, revised regulations could grant it greater freedom in terms of development, spending, and the introduction of technical upgrades.
For such a regulatory change to be approved, a supermajority is required within the Formula 1 Power Unit Advisory Committee, meaning at least four out of the five current engine manufacturers, alongside both the FOM and the FIA.
In summary, the 2026 F1 season has sparked urgent evaluations of the ADUO regulations to help Honda overcome its current performance crisis. By potentially revising the 2% and 4% thresholds, the FIA and FOM aim to ensure that no major manufacturer remains isolated at the back of the grid due to technical limitations. Achieving a supermajority for these changes will be crucial to maintaining the competitive integrity and spectacle of the championship in the coming years.
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