FIA confirms Red Bull-Ford’s lead in second ADUO evaluation

The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull-Ford remains the leading power unit in Formula 1 following the second evaluation of its Additional Upgrades and Opportunities (ADUO) system. This assessment, which covers the first 11 races of the 2026 season, indicates that Mercedes is the closest competitor but still falls short by 2% to 4%, while Audi, Ferrari, and Honda lag behind by more than 4%. Honda's recent power unit update was not included in this evaluation due to timing issues.

The ADUO system aims to address performance disparities among manufacturers and offers development opportunities based on competitive analysis. Although Mercedes has secured one additional homologation opportunity, no further allowances were granted to any manufacturer in the latest assessment. FIA director Nikolas Tombazis emphasized the thoroughness of the evaluation process and the potential for future adjustments to the ADUO system.