FIA Reveals Results for F1 Power Unit Development

The FIA, which governs Formula 1, disclosed the results on Wednesday regarding the second period of reporting for Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO). Red Bull-Ford Powertrains continues to set the standard for the F1 grid.

According to F1 regulations, evaluations were made of each power unit’s internal combustion element (ICE). Red Bull-Ford maintained its position as the benchmark, which mirrors the findings from the first period of the season. In contrast, the other four manufacturers—Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, and Honda—will all have opportunities to enhance their power units.

The FIA noted that the Mercedes power unit, which powers teams like Mercedes, Alpine, McLaren, and Williams, lags behind Red Bull’s ICE by 2% to 4%. Ferrari’s power unit, used by Ferrari, Haas, and Cadillac, was found to be more than 4% off the benchmark. Similarly, both the Honda unit, powering Aston Martin, and Audi’s unit mirror this lag.

According to F1’s technical rules, if a power unit falls at least 2% short of the benchmark, that team qualifies for one extra upgrade this season, as well as another for the following season. Teams that are over 4% behind will receive two additional upgrades for the current and the next season.

It’s critical to highlight that the ADUO assessment only focuses on the ICE, which currently accounts for about 53% of power in the hybrid engines. The remaining 47% is provided by the MGU-K battery component.

Looking ahead, the ICE’s contribution to power will gradually increase. F1 previously announced that for the upcoming season, the split will be 58% ICE and 42% battery power. By the 2028 season, the ICE’s share is expected to rise to 60%.

Regarding the 2026 campaign, it means that while nine out of the eleven teams will have opportunities to upgrade their ICE units, Red Bull and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls will have to maintain their current units.

The remaining nine teams can implement updates to their ICE components as soon as the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. These upgrades may include improvements to the ICE, exhaust systems, electrical components and sensors related to the ICE or exhaust, and control electronics, among others.

It’s worth noting that any upgrade not utilized within the specified season will be lost, leading teams to likely prioritize rolling out their enhancements sooner rather than later.