Red Bull-Ford stays on top in FIA's latest power unit evaluation

The FIA has confirmed Red Bull-Ford still produces the most powerful internal combustion engine in Formula 1, according to the second Additional Upgrades and Opportunities (ADUO) evaluation. Mercedes trails by 2-4% in power, while Audi, Ferrari, and Honda are all more than 4% behind. No additional homologation allowances were handed out in this review.

Why it matters:

ADUO is the FIA's new performance-balancing tool for power units, granting extra dyno time and cost cap space to manufacturers that lag behind. With Red Bull-Ford setting the pace, these rankings directly influence how much development headroom rivals get for 2026 and 2027. The outcome shapes the competitive landscape for the next generation of engines.

The details:

• The assessment covers every race from the Australian Grand Prix through the Hungarian Grand Prix.
• Honda's freshly introduced power unit, which debuted at the Dutch Grand Prix, was not included in this data set.
• Earlier this season, Mercedes received one additional homologation for both 2026 and 2027, while Audi, Ferrari, and Honda were each granted two per year.
• Those extra allowances consist of additional dyno testing hours and a boosted cost cap.
• FIA's take: Nikolas Tombazis, FIA director of single-seaters, said the analysis is "incredibly robust" but added that confidentiality and intellectual property concerns limit what can be shared.
• Tombazis also noted ADUO is in its first year, so the process may evolve through discussions with all PU manufacturers.

What's next:

With no new homologations awarded this time, the FIA appears satisfied that the current balance doesn't require immediate intervention. But the next evaluation could shift things, particularly as Honda's updated engine accumulates more race data. Teams will be watching closely as they lock in their 2026 power unit specifications.