The FIA has officially clarified when Formula 1 engine manufacturers will receive the first verdicts linked to the ADUO system, following recent amendments to the technical regulations triggered by the calendar disruptions earlier this season. The updated rules also introduce an additional protection mechanism that could prove particularly important for Honda, currently considered the manufacturer facing the biggest challenges in the new power unit development race.
FIA officially confirms ADUO timeline
Formula 1 teams and engine suppliers now finally have certainty regarding the timing of the FIA’s ADUO evaluations. Before the latest regulatory update, there had been considerable confusion after the postponements of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix earlier in the year altered the original sequence of the championship calendar.
The ADUO system is designed to monitor performance gaps between power unit manufacturers and determine which companies are eligible for additional development concessions aimed at helping struggling engine projects catch up with their rivals.
Initially, the FIA planned to issue the first official assessment after the sixth race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, followed by further evaluations after rounds 12 and 18 of the 24-race calendar. However, the calendar reshuffle created uncertainty over how and when those checkpoints would be applied.
That uncertainty has now been fully resolved thanks to an official amendment to the FIA technical regulations approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
The clarification appears in the revised wording of Article 4.2 of Appendix C5 of the technical regulations, which specifically governs the so-called “ADUO Periods.” Under the updated rules, the first assessment period will now officially cover rounds one through five of the championship.
As a result, the first FIA communication regarding which manufacturers will qualify for additional engine development support will arrive after the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24.
The second assessment will take place after round 11 of the championship rather than after round 12 as originally planned. This means the next evaluation will be issued following the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, instead of after the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23 as initially scheduled.
The third and final ADUO review remains unchanged and will still be communicated after the Mexican Grand Prix on November 1.
New “Honda protection” threshold introduced
The FIA has not only adjusted the timing of the ADUO evaluations. The governing body has also introduced an important new performance threshold that could significantly benefit manufacturers struggling the most under the current engine regulations.
According to the revised rules, an additional level of concessions has now been created for any power unit manufacturer operating with a power deficit greater than 10 percent compared to the benchmark engine.
While the FIA documentation does not explicitly name any manufacturer, many insiders believe the measure has effectively been designed to help Honda, which is currently viewed as the most disadvantaged engine supplier in terms of outright power performance.
Manufacturers falling into this newly created category will now receive an additional 230 hours of dyno testing to accelerate development work on their internal combustion engines.
The revised ADUO framework also includes financial support advantages. Suppliers with a power deficit exceeding 10 percent will be granted an additional budget allowance worth 11 million dollars. Meanwhile, manufacturers whose engines are estimated to be between 8 and 10 percent down on the leading power unit will receive an extra 8 million dollars in development funding.
The updated regulations underline the FIA’s determination to avoid excessive performance gaps between engine manufacturers during the new power unit era. With Formula 1 preparing for one of the biggest technical transitions in its modern history, the ADUO system is becoming an increasingly important tool to preserve competitive balance across the grid.
Attention will now shift to the Canadian Grand Prix later this month, where the FIA is finally expected to publish the first official ADUO findings and reveal which manufacturers are eligible for additional support under the revised Formula 1 engine regulations.
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