The ADUO acronym is one of the most significant innovations introduced in Formula 1’s new power unit regulations. Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities is a mechanism designed to allow manufacturers to update their power units during the current season and the following championship. The objective is to accelerate the natural process of performance convergence between engine suppliers.
There has been extensive discussion surrounding ADUO both before the start of the season and in recent weeks. After the next race, the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA’s evaluation process for establishing the first engine performance ranking will officially begin. As is often the case when major regulatory changes are introduced in Formula 1, some elements are immediately straightforward, while others remain more complex and open to interpretation.
“It is important to clarify that ADUO is not a Balance of Performance (BOP) system,” explained FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis. “A team or manufacturer will not suddenly have access to more fuel or less ballast. This is a Cost Cap relief mechanism, where a power unit manufacturer that meets the ADUO criteria has the opportunity to develop its engine through a reduction in cost constraints. A manufacturer will still need to build the best engine to win, it is not a magic solution or a bonus: it simply offers room to develop the power unit within the limits established by the Technical Regulations.”
The first aspect likely to attract major attention in the coming weeks will be the calculation of the internal combustion engine performance index. The evaluation is based on several parameters, including crankshaft torque, rotational speed and MGU-K power output.
A manufacturer whose internal combustion engine performance index is at least 2% lower — but less than 4% behind — the best-performing internal combustion engine will be entitled to one homologation update during the current season and one additional update in the following campaign. Manufacturers with a deficit of 4% or greater will instead be eligible for two supplementary updates in the current season and two more in the following championship.
On top of this comes specific Cost Cap relief dedicated to development. Any manufacturer with a performance gap between 2% and 4% will receive up to $3 million in additional spending room. Between 4% and 6%, the allowance rises to up to $4.65 million. From 6% to 8%, it increases to $6.35 million, while a deficit between 8% and 10% allows up to $8 million in extra development margin.
Manufacturers facing a deficit of 10% or more could receive up to $11 million for each ADUO period, along with a special provision — valid only for the 2026 Formula 1 season — allowing them to bring forward up to $8 million of Cost Cap allocation from future periods.
The monitoring windows were revised following the changes to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. The season has now been divided into three assessment periods. Initially, the first window was supposed to include races one through six, but after the calendar revision it was shortened to the opening five events: Melbourne, Shanghai, Suzuka, Miami and Montreal. Results must be communicated within two weeks of the Canadian Grand Prix.
The second assessment period will cover races six through eleven, from Monte Carlo to Budapest, while the third will run from the twelfth race through Zandvoort and conclude with the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Once the results are communicated, power unit manufacturers eligible for the ADUO programme will receive separate notification detailing their specific allocation and will be permitted to introduce updates from the very next race weekend. Any unused update not deployed by the final event of the season will be lost.
For example, if a manufacturer receives one update for 2026 and one for 2027 following the Canadian Grand Prix assessment, the 2026 allocation must be used before the end of the current season, while the 2027 update remains available for use in the following championship.
ADUO updates cannot be accumulated within the same season and are granted only the first time a manufacturer qualifies under FIA criteria. However, updates allocated for the following year can be combined with any additional allowances earned in subsequent evaluations.
In a scenario where a manufacturer receives two updates for 2026 and two for 2027, then qualifies again for ADUO after the first assessment period of the 2027 season, it could potentially have four updates available to introduce during the 2027 championship.
Manufacturers qualifying under the ADUO framework will be permitted to modify a broad list of components, as outlined in Appendix C4 of the Technical Regulations. Areas open to development include internal combustion engine components, the exhaust system, the turbocharger, the wastegate or pop-off valve, electrical systems and engine-mounted or exhaust-mounted sensors, the ERS and its cooling circuits, the MGU-K, vehicle control electronics, as well as selected hydraulic components and operating fluids.
Leave a Reply