Former Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner has rejected growing speculation that Ferrari may have deliberately underperformed in the early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season in order to gain an advantage from the FIA’s new engine development framework known as ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities).
The debate has intensified in the paddock as teams await the FIA’s first official allocation of engine development allowances, but Guenther Steiner insists that the idea of strategic underperformance in Formula 1 is unrealistic and counterproductive at the highest level of competition.
F1 2026 engine regulations introduce ADUO development system
With the introduction of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, the FIA and Formula 1 management have implemented a new structured system designed to control how and when engine manufacturers can introduce performance upgrades.
The goal of the ADUO system is to prevent unrestricted mid-season development of power units, ensuring a more balanced competitive environment between manufacturers Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains, Honda, and Audi.
The 2026 regulation overhaul represents one of the most significant technical shifts in modern Formula 1 history, with the removal of the expensive MGU-H system, the introduction of fully sustainable fuels, and a major restructuring of energy deployment that now places approximately equal emphasis on internal combustion and electrical power.
These changes have created a completely new performance landscape, with Mercedes currently excelling in energy management efficiency, while Ferrari have shown strong performance off the line thanks to their compact turbocharger philosophy designed to compensate for the absence of the MGU-H.
Guenther Steiner rejects Ferrari engine “conspiracy theory” claims
Under the ADUO framework, engine manufacturers whose internal combustion engine performance is between two and four percent behind the benchmark unit are eligible for one development token, while those exceeding a four percent deficit are granted two upgrade tokens.
The FIA and Formula 1 are expected to confirm the first ADUO allocations shortly after the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, scheduled for May 22 to May 24, which has only increased speculation about which manufacturers may benefit most.
Some paddock theories have suggested that Ferrari could be deliberately concealing the true performance of their 2026 Formula 1 power unit in order to qualify for additional development opportunities. However, Guenther Steiner has strongly dismissed such suggestions.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, the former Haas team boss stated that he does not believe any Formula 1 team would intentionally “sandbag” engine performance for strategic regulatory gain. He compared the situation to aerodynamic testing restrictions, where teams lower in the championship already receive more wind tunnel time, arguing that artificial underperformance would ultimately harm competitiveness rather than provide long-term benefit.
Guenther Steiner described the idea as a “conspiracy theory”, explaining that the performance trade-off required to deliberately underdeliver in Formula 1 would outweigh any potential regulatory advantage gained later in the season.
Ferrari and Mercedes battle at the front of the 2026 Formula 1 season
After the opening three rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Ferrari have emerged as one of the closest challengers to Mercedes, but the early championship standings already show a significant gap forming between the two teams.
Mercedes drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have established an early advantage in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, with consistent race wins, sprint victories, and pole positions setting the tone for the opening phase of the season.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc currently sits in third place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 23 points and George Russell by 14 points, highlighting the performance gap Ferrari are still working to close despite competitive race pace in certain conditions.
Lewis Hamilton, in his role as Ferrari’s lead technical contributor alongside Charles Leclerc, has also been closely involved in evaluating the performance limitations of the SF-26 package as the team continues to refine its development direction under the new regulations.
Despite this, Ferrari’s position in the championship suggests that any attempt to intentionally mask true engine performance in order to gain ADUO advantage would be highly difficult, particularly given the FIA’s increasing focus on data transparency and performance verification.
FIA introduces safeguards to prevent engine performance manipulation
According to reports from Corriere Della Sera, the FIA has already implemented additional monitoring measures designed to identify any deliberate attempts by engine manufacturers to conceal full performance potential ahead of ADUO classification.
These countermeasures are intended to ensure that all manufacturers, including Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains, Honda, and Audi, are assessed based on accurate and comparable performance data during the evaluation process.
While the first wave of ADUO-driven engine upgrades is not expected to appear until later in the season, potentially after the summer break, the ongoing scrutiny of engine performance metrics is already shaping development strategies across the Formula 1 paddock.
The combination of regulatory complexity, performance convergence, and intense development competition is expected to keep both Ferrari and Mercedes at the centre of the technical battle for championship supremacy.
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