The FIA’s next ADUO assessment will take place after the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, but Ferrari cannot receive any additional development concessions beyond those it has already secured. The regulations prevent ADUO homologation upgrades from accumulating during the same season, meaning the Scuderia’s existing allocation will remain unchanged regardless of the new power unit evaluation.
That does not leave Ferrari without an opportunity to improve its internal combustion engine. Maranello qualified for the available assistance at the first assessment and still has one of its two permitted 2026 upgrades remaining. Ferrari’s early eligibility could therefore prove important as the team attempts to strengthen its challenge for the Constructors’ Championship.
Hungarian GP brings the second ADUO evaluation period to an end
The approaching Hungarian Grand Prix represents a major turning point in the current season, both for the championship battle and for the complex mechanism governing the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system, commonly known as ADUO.
Following the cancellation of two Grands Prix because of the unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the FIA intervened in the technical regulations and redefined the assessment periods. The revised schedule now divides the 2026 Formula 1 season into three ADUO evaluation windows:
- Period 1: races one to five.
- Period 2: races six to 11.
- Period 3: races 12 to 18.
The Canadian Grand Prix brought the opening assessment period, covering races one to five, to an end. The second period encompasses rounds six to 11 and will conclude with the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Why the first FIA ADUO assessment produced a paradoxical result
It appears unlikely that the FIA will publish an official ranking showing the relative performance of each manufacturer’s internal combustion engine. No such public communication was released following the opening assessment period.
Nevertheless, that first evaluation reportedly produced some paradoxical results. Red Bull, despite experiencing difficulties, was designated as the reference for internal combustion engine power. Mercedes, which had been dominant, qualified for one additional upgrade in 2026 and another in 2027.
Ferrari’s position brought no equivalent surprise. With the Maranello power unit assessed as having a thermal-power deficit of more than 4% relative to the Milton Keynes benchmark, Ferrari was granted two additional upgrades this season and another two in 2027.
The Scuderia has already introduced the first of those developments, although Ferrari described it as a relatively marginal intervention. Our earlier analysis examined the expected performance effect of Ferrari’s initial ADUO upgrade and why it was never intended to represent a complete transformation.
Honda, meanwhile, is once again dealing with a serious technical crisis and will benefit from the maximum level of available assistance. According to the original assessment, this includes additional budget-cap provisions that appear specifically designed to help ensure the manufacturer can remain competitive.
Why Ferrari cannot receive more ADUO help after Hungary
Even without knowing what the next ranking will show, the regulations make the post-summer scenario relatively clear. ADUO homologation upgrades cannot be accumulated during the same season. They are granted exclusively after the first assessment in which a power unit manufacturer is declared eligible for ADUO assistance by the FIA.
Ferrari, Mercedes and Honda have already qualified for concessions. As a result, none of the three manufacturers can receive further ADUO allowances following the evaluation that concludes after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Ferrari has used one of its two permitted upgrades, with the first development arriving as a minor step. The remaining allowance gives Maranello another opportunity to modify its power unit during the second half of the season, but the new assessment cannot increase the number of upgrades at its disposal.
The importance of that second intervention has already been highlighted by reports examining Ferrari’s work on its second ADUO power unit package.
Could Red Bull Powertrains qualify for ADUO?
Red Bull Powertrains could theoretically benefit from the new evaluation. However, it appears unlikely that the competitive order between the manufacturers will change sufficiently to produce such an outcome.
Mercedes has not yet used the upgrade granted through its existing ADUO allocation. Ferrari, by contrast, has deployed one of its two permitted updates, although Maranello has acknowledged that the first intervention was relatively minor.
There is therefore little reason to expect a major change after Hungary, but another provision makes Red Bull Powertrains’ position especially significant. The regulations state:
“Power unit manufacturers that do not obtain ADUO following either of the first two ADUO periods of the current season will not be eligible to receive ADUO during the final period of that same season.”
In practical terms, if Red Bull does not qualify for ADUO assistance after the Hungaroring assessment—an outcome the source considers unlikely—it will have exhausted its opportunity to introduce ADUO upgrades during the current season. The manufacturer would then have to wait until the end of the championship to discover its new position.
Teams have known about the ADUO deadline from the beginning
This section of the regulations was not introduced as part of the recent amendments following the two Grand Prix cancellations. It has been present since the initial version of the provisions governing ADUO.
Power unit manufacturers should consequently have defined their development strategies with this restriction in mind well before the start of the season. The framework rewards manufacturers that qualify for assistance early because it gives them more time to prepare, validate and introduce their permitted upgrades.
The wider strategic implications of the system have already raised questions about whether Formula 1 manufacturers shaped their plans around the first ADUO assessment.
Ferrari receives no new help but retains an important opportunity
The bad news for Ferrari is that the post-Hungary assessment cannot produce any new assistance beyond the concessions already awarded. The source also argues that Mercedes used the regulations tactically to secure development help that it probably did not require.
The positive side for Maranello is that Ferrari succeeded in having its performance disadvantage recognised at the first available opportunity. That gave the Italian manufacturer the maximum possible amount of time to prepare and deploy every upgrade permitted under its existing allocation.
Ferrari’s first ADUO step may have been modest, but the second remains available at a crucial stage of the campaign. If the remaining development produces a more meaningful improvement, it could support the Scuderia’s attempt to maximise the potential of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the fight for the 2026 Constructors’ Championship.
The Hungarian assessment will therefore not unlock another concession for Ferrari. Its significance lies instead in confirming that Maranello acted at the earliest possible moment, securing the development freedom needed to introduce its remaining power unit update while there is still time for it to influence the championship.
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