F1 ADUO changes: revised evaluation windows and extra concessions to help Honda
The FIA has approved a series of adjustments to the ADUO system following the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting, introducing key changes aimed at supporting power unit manufacturers that are currently struggling. The first evaluation window will now conclude after the Canadian Grand Prix to compensate for the two cancelled races, while additional concessions have also been introduced, particularly to benefit Honda, including more test bench hours and greater budget flexibility.
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the conflict in the Middle East had already pushed several manufacturers to request a revision of the ADUO evaluation windows. The system determines, over a set number of races, the performance level of each power unit through a complex calculation method, with the governing body then assigning potential concessions to help underperforming manufacturers close the gap.
First ADUO evaluation window moved after Canada
The original plan had set the first evaluation window across six events, originally up to the Miami Grand Prix, without changes. However, in a later meeting where other regulatory updates were confirmed, it was agreed with manufacturers to shorten this first phase by one race, reaching a compromise solution.
| ADUO evaluation windows | Original | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| First window | GP 1 to 6 | GP 1 to 5 (Canada) |
| Second window | GP 7 to 12 | GP 6 to 11 (Hungary) |
| Third window | GP 13 to 18 | GP 12 to 18 (Mexico) |
As previously indicated by Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA will also use the Canadian Grand Prix to assess power unit performance, combining factory data with on-track measurements through a statistical average based on the best-performing car for each engine manufacturer. After the Montreal round, all data will be reviewed and manufacturers will be assigned to a performance bracket reflecting their deficit level.
By advancing the first operational window to end in Canada, the FIA has also adjusted the following two phases. The second evaluation window, still covering five Grands Prix, will now run from Monaco to Hungary, aligning with the final race before the summer break. To maintain overall balance, the third window has been extended by one race, still concluding in Mexico as originally planned.
New concessions introduced to support Honda development
The latest draft regulation also introduces a significant update regarding concessions for struggling manufacturers, with Honda specifically highlighted. Following a general increase in bench test hours introduced in a previous revision, the FIA has now added a dedicated category for manufacturers showing a power deficit greater than 10%.
Considering that current internal combustion engines are still producing under 600 hp, a 10% deficit compared to the reference power unit would represent roughly a 60 hp gap. Reports suggest Honda’s disadvantage is even larger, allowing the manufacturer to qualify for the new category and access additional support measures.
| Deficit from best engine | Extra bench hours (original) | Extra bench hours (updated) |
|---|---|---|
| <2% | 0 | 0 |
| <2% – <4% | 70 | 70 |
| <4% – <6% | 110 | 110 |
| <6% – <8% | 150 | 150 |
| <8% – <10% | 190 | 190 |
| >10% | — | 230 |
While all other categories remain unchanged, manufacturers with a deficit above 10% will now receive 230 extra operational bench hours, an increase of 40 hours compared to the previous highest bracket. This represents a significant incentive for the Japanese manufacturer, which will be able to accelerate its recovery towards the competitive benchmark. In any case, a heavily underperforming Honda engine is not beneficial for the sport as a whole.
However, the ADUO framework does not only affect bench testing time, but also the budget cap. To allow further development and the potential introduction of updated power units during the season, the FIA has also increased financial allowances.
In order to further support Honda, the cost deduction applied within the budget cap has been raised to 11 million for manufacturers with a deficit above 10%, effectively freeing an additional 3 million compared to the previous limit. An extra one-off allowance of 8 million is also included for this season only, again for manufacturers exceeding the 10% deficit threshold.
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