Red Bull has emerged as Formula 1’s leading engine manufacturer in the FIA’s first Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) assessment, a verdict that has caught many in the paddock by surprise.
For much of the sport’s new power-unit era, the widespread assumption has been that Mercedes possesses the benchmark package. And the championship picture has only reinforced that belief.
Yet information shared with manufacturers after the Monaco Grand Prix indicates that the FIA’s own evaluation has reached a very different conclusion.
Under the governing body’s ADUO framework, the co-branded Red Bull Powertrains-Ford engine has reportedly been classified as the best-performing power unit, making it the reference point against which rival manufacturers are measured.
The consequence is significant: while Red Bull does not qualify for additional development concessions, both Mercedes and Ferrari will receive opportunities to improve their engines during the 2026 season.
A surprise beneath the surface
The ADUO system was introduced to prevent manufacturers from falling irretrievably behind under Formula 1’s tightly controlled engine regulations. If a power unit is deemed more than 2% behind the benchmark, its manufacturer receives extra development opportunities. A deficit greater than 4% unlocks even more assistance.
What makes the ruling particularly unexpected is that the FIA’s assessment focuses on just one element of the power unit: the internal combustion engine.
Performance gains derived from energy recovery systems, battery technology, deployment strategies, efficiency improvements or MGU-K management are excluded from the evaluation. As a result, overall competitiveness on track does not necessarily mirror the ADUO rankings.
That distinction appears to have elevated Red Bull to the top of the FIA’s engine hierarchy despite Mercedes’ strong championship position.
The FIA has also chosen not to publish the precise metrics behind its calculations, wary that manufacturers could otherwise design engines to appear weaker in specific areas and thereby qualify for additional development allowances.
Rivals receive development lifeline
The ruling creates immediate opportunities for Red Bull’s competitors.
Mercedes has reportedly been judged to be more than 2% behind the benchmark. That grants it one upgrade homologation in 2026 and another in 2027, along with an additional $3 million of cost-cap spending and 70 extra hours of bench testing.
Ferrari has been placed in the category reserved for manufacturers more than 4% adrift. That status allows two upgrade homologations this season and two more next year. Other manufacturers in the same bracket, including Honda, are also eligible for the maximum number of upgrades currently available.
Teams were informed only of the performance bands, not the exact percentage deficits. Consequently, Ferrari and Honda being grouped together does not indicate that they are equally competitive – only that both exceed the 4% threshold established by the regulations.
For now, the FIA’s verdict delivers one of the biggest surprises of Formula 1’s new engine era. While many viewed Mercedes as the benchmark, the governing body’s own assessment has placed Red Bull at the head of the pack.
Read also: FIA says new ADUO process ‘not a balance of performance' scheme
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