Red Bull keeps its engine development frozen under the FIA's catch-up system, confirmed again after the governing body's third analysis window covering August through October. Mercedes sits 2-4% behind in ICE performance and banks one upgrade slot each for 2026 and 2027. Audi, Ferrari, and Honda remain 4%+ adrift and get two shots per year—though Ferrari and Honda already burned their 2026 tokens while Audi is holding its cards for the new regs cycle.
The ADUO mechanism ranks manufacturers purely on combustion engine output, ignoring hybrid deployment and overall power unit integration. That narrow focus has drawn criticism, and the FIA signaled changes coming for 2027 when new fuel-flow rates arrive. Options on the table include factoring in turbo sizing, operating temps, or scrapping the ICE-only lens entirely in favor of championship position. The system caught what it needed to catch, but expect a broader net next time.
Read the full story at The Race
