Audi delays key power unit upgrade to 2027 as McNish outlines long-term plan

Audi F1 will hold off on deploying its second permitted power unit upgrade until 2027, with team representative Allan McNish confirming the German manufacturer will not use its remaining ADUO token before the season ends. The call reflects a calculated effort to manage spending under the PU manufacturer budget cap and prioritize a more substantial hardware overhaul for next year rather than chasing a marginal mid-season gain that could jeopardize long-term development.

Why it matters:

As a new entrant still finding its footing in Formula 1, Audi is walking a tightrope between immediate results and long-term stability. McNish stressed that burning through the development budget on a rushed 2026 engine update would leave the operation exposed for future seasons, especially with the chassis already showing genuine promise and recent upgrades delivering consecutive points finishes.

The details:

• Audi was awarded two ADUO tokens after FIA benchmarking showed its internal combustion engine was at least four percent down on the benchmark set by Red Bull Powertrains.
• The team used its first token in Barcelona to improve driveability and launch consistency, though race starts remain a work in progress.
• McNish explained that the next upgrade requires significant hardware changes that simply cannot be fast-tracked within the current financial regulations.
• Instead, gains have come from an aero package introduced in Austria that boosted low-speed corner performance, helping Audi leapfrog Williams in the Constructors' standings.

What's next:

With the summer break providing a chance to reset, Audi will focus on extracting more from its current package and refining race operations through the second half of the year. The major power unit step is now locked in for 2027, when the team hopes to begin eroding the sizable gap that remains to Formula 1's leading quartet.