NO CHANGES AS FIA COMPLETES SECOND ADUO POWER UNIT DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS

The FIA's second power unit performance review under its ADUO regulations changes nothing from round one: Red Bull-Ford remains the only manufacturer barred from extra development tokens. The analysis, which followed the Hungarian Grand Prix, reaffirmed the ruling from June that handed Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and Renault additional upgrade opportunities while freezing out the Ford-backed operation.

The Additional Development Upgrade Opportunity system is designed to narrow the gap between power unit suppliers, but Red Bull-Ford's exclusion signals the FIA believes their engine is competitive enough to stand on its own. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's single-seater chief, called the data analysis "incredibly robust" while acknowledging this first year of ADUO may evolve.

The third assessment period runs through Mexico in November. For now, Ford's return to F1 remains on the outside looking in when it comes to regulatory help, a backhanded compliment to their performance ceiling.