There are exactly three weeks remaining until the first pre-season testing session, which will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to January 30. The Spanish track has been designated to host the debut of this revolutionary generation of Formula 1 cars. Alongside the cars, the brand-new Power Units will also cover their first kilometers, having already been explained in detail in previous reports.
Starting this season, even the development of engines will be regulated by a strict cost cap, and updates will follow a clearly defined schedule—component homologation in 2027 and 2029. In response, the FIA has introduced ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), a system of technical concessions that effectively allows teams to exceed the cost cap, provides a 30% increase in allowed dyno testing, and enables the homologation of additional parts.
How does it work?
The benefits described above will apply to engine manufacturers whose units deliver at least 2% less power compared to the top-performing Power Unit. Performance will be closely monitored using torque sensors installed on the drive shafts.
That said, it is important to clarify one point: this is not the same method used in the World Endurance Championship with the much-discussed Balance of Performance (BoP). If one is inclined to draw parallels, ADUO is more akin to the concession system applied in MotoGP. What is similar is only the ultimate goal—to balance performance between different manufacturers—but the methods are completely opposite. While BoP adds ballast to reduce a technical advantage, ADUO provides additional opportunities for development and improvement.
Leave a Reply