Explaining ADUO: Why Ferrari and Red Bull might miss out on extra engine upgrades. After the 2026 Australian GP, some F1 constructors have already voiced concerns about ADUO.

During the Australian GP, the first event of the 2026 Formula 1 season, it became clear that some constructors had already raised complaints about ADUO, the FIA’s new system designed to allow engine manufacturers who started the season late to catch up more quickly with the strongest competitors. While recovery might be somewhat easier than in the past, it’s not as straightforward as some might have hoped.

ADUO performance brackets explained

According to the FIA regulations, there are two performance brackets (summarized here):

• Manufacturers lagging between 2% and 4% compared to the ICE performance index are entitled to:
  1. One additional homologation in the current year;
  2. One additional homologation in the following year.
• Manufacturers lagging more than 4% compared to the ICE performance index are entitled to:
  1. Two additional homologations in the current year;
  2. Two additional homologations in the following year.

A quick hypothetical calculation

So far, so good. 2% or 4% seem like small numbers. Let’s play a quick hypothetical game to see what they correspond to if we apply them to qualifying times.

At the end of Q3 in Melbourne, many complained about the gap between Mercedes and everyone else. Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren were around eight tenths behind the leader. That may sound small, but which ADUO bracket would they fall into? The first, the second, or perhaps neither? Let’s calculate.

George Russell’s pole lap was 1’18’’518, while Isack Hadjar posted 1’19’’303 and Charles Leclerc 1’19’’327.

Converting Russell’s time to seconds (78.518) and applying a 2% margin gives 80.088 seconds, or 1’20’’088. Applying a 4% margin gives 81.658 seconds, or 1’21’’658.

Looking at Melbourne’s qualifying results, Ferrari and Red Bull wouldn’t even fit in the first bracket (2–4%). The first constructor to fall into this bracket would be Audi in Q2, while Honda would fall into the second bracket.

Performance measurement will focus on power

Fortunately, qualifying times are not used by the FIA to evaluate each constructor’s power unit. The performance index, based on the power the engines generate, is the key metric. Lap times are just a combination of power delivery and aerodynamic efficiency. The raw lap times don’t determine ADUO eligibility. This example was presented as a hypothetical trap to prevent misinterpretation.

Still, lap times can serve as an indicator. Manufacturers like Ferrari and Red Bull may struggle to fall into the first ADUO bracket, despite an eight-tenth gap in qualifying pace.

The FIA’s first official check will take place in Miami and will be based on the average of the first five GPs. We will need to wait until the first weekend of May to see the results of this report.

The early friction surrounding ADUO proves that the 2026 technical regulations are a double-edged sword: while the FIA has provided a mechanism for recovery, the strict performance thresholds mean that even a significant on-track deficit may not be enough to unlock the extra development tokens needed to challenge Mercedes. As we approach the Miami deadline, the pressure is on the chasing pack to prove that their horsepower deficit is as real as the stopwatches suggest.