F1 engine reset: ADUO could still trigger after Miami despite Bahrain and Saudi cancellations. F1 teams may still access the ADUO development windows after Miami.

The first recovery opportunity for power units

When Formula 1 introduced the new 2026 regulations, it included four development windows for power units. This system, called ADUO – “additional developments and opportunities for upgrades” – was designed to help struggling engine manufacturers catch up, reducing the large performance gaps that often appear at the start of a new regulatory cycle.

In the original 2026 calendar, which included 24 races, ADUO was planned to open after race 6 (Miami, May 3), race 12 (Belgium, July 19), race 18 (Singapore, October 11), and race 24 (Abu Dhabi, December 6). With the likely and imminent cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia rounds, the calendar would shrink to 22 races, raising questions about how the FIA would handle the ADUO system.

What the FIA will do with ADUO

Without Sakhir and Jeddah, the sixth race on the calendar becomes Monaco on June 7, over a month after Miami. However, as The Race reports, the FIA is currently discussing with teams the possibility of keeping the ADUO windows unchanged, meaning the first one would still open after the Miami Grand Prix.

Fewer races’ advantage for Mercedes?

This would be good news for engine rivals of Mercedes, as they would not need to wait for six actual races but only four to introduce new power unit developments. Additionally, the planned compression ratio measurement will remain unchanged, starting on June 1 – after five GPs, not seven as originally scheduled.

How ADUO works

The FIA will decide which teams qualify for ADUO. Engine manufacturers with a power deficit of at least 2% (roughly 10 horsepower) compared to the highest-performing internal combustion engine will receive an extra upgrade during the current and following season. If the deficit exceeds 4% (around 20 horsepower), the manufacturer is entitled to two additional upgrades.

To discourage “sandbagging,” or techniques to hide true performance, the FIA can revoke previously granted ADUO at its discretion, as explicitly explained in Article 4.a. The federation will measure power unit output using torque sensors mounted on the rear drive shafts.

The decision to maintain the Miami trigger for ADUO despite a shortened calendar could be the most influential political move of the 2026 Formula 1 season. For teams like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Red Bull Ford, who are all currently chasing the benchmark set by the Mercedes W17, every week of development is vital. If the 15-horsepower gap reported in Shanghai holds true, the opening of this window after just four races prevents Mercedes from building an insurmountable lead in the standings before the European leg begins. By measuring power directly via driveshaft torque sensors, the FIA is ensuring that 2026 remains a championship of engineering transparency. For the fans, this means the “survival mode” currently seen in the midfield might be short-lived, potentially leading to a much tighter, three-way manufacturer battle by the time the paddock reaches Silverstone.