WHY AUDI AND FERRARI CAN ALREADY UPGRADE THEIR F1 ENGINES DESPITE ADUO DELAY

The FIA’s official ADUO engine upgrade announcement faces delays, but manufacturers aren't waiting around. Red Bull-Ford Powertrains, surprisingly ranked as the benchmark, requested a re-verification of the data, holding up the formal release. Despite the holdup, teams like Audi and Ferrari are already rolling out power unit upgrades, having received an informal green light from the FIA in Monaco.

Red Bull-Ford, with American giant Ford on board, disputes their benchmark status, claiming no data shows them ahead of Mercedes. They specifically challenge Mercedes’ eligibility for a single upgrade token. Meanwhile, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda are all over 4% behind the benchmark, granting them two upgrade tokens this season and two more for next year. Ferrari introduced its first ADUO upgrade in Austria, and Audi ran one in Barcelona. The paddock already knows the score, and it's highly unlikely the re-verification will change the overall picture. This ADUO system ensures engine convergence continues, potentially tightening the field as others close the gap on Red Bull.