FIA expands ADUO safety net amid cancelled races, adjusts Formula 1 engine development rules

The FIA has updated its ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system after the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, shifting checkpoints and increasing allowances for struggling power unit manufacturers. The first evaluation period now begins after the Canadian Grand Prix (round 5) instead of Miami (round 6), with subsequent checkpoints moved to after Hungary (round 11) and after round 18.

Why it matters:

ADUO is designed to prevent any manufacturer from falling too far behind during the five-year engine cycle. The tweaks – including a new test bench category for those more than 10% off the leader – suggest that early performance index data has revealed some PUMs are in deeper trouble than anticipated, potentially influencing the competitive order.

The details:

• Checkpoint shift: Period 1 now after round 5 (Canada), Period 2 after round 11 (Hungary), Period 3 after round 18 (unchanged).
• Extra test bench hours: A new tier grants 230 hours to PUMs more than 10% behind the best-performing engine (previously 190 hours for those >8%).
• Financial flexibility: PUMs >10% behind can make a downward adjustment of $11 million in their inaugural season, to be balanced out in later years.
• Paddock whispers: Audi and Honda are expected to qualify for two homologation updates (more than 4% behind), while Ferrari may get one. Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains are leading the field.

Between the lines:

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis stressed that ADUO is not a Balance of Performance system – it only grants extra development opportunities, not performance boosts. “It’s not that we give free brownie points to somebody who’s behind,” he said. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff expressed confidence in the FIA’s fairness, noting ADUO is a “catch-up mechanism, not a leapfrog mechanism.” The first ADUO grants will be decided after the Canadian Grand Prix.