P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA has approved changes to engine rules aimed at assisting Honda – which appears to be more than 10% off F1’s benchmark – in its recovery
The FIA has approved changes to Formula 1’s engine rules to assist Honda’s recovery. Discussions were held with all F1 power unit manufacturers to provide extra support to Honda due to its early 2026 struggles. The cap within the regulations under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities mechanism has been lifted to aid Honda’s progress. The regulations were reviewed by the FIA to ensure fair support without leading to unfair advantages. Extra development and financial support have been approved for Honda, including increased spending allowances and test bench running hours. Timing adjustments have been made for upgrade allowances, with the first call now scheduled after the Canadian GP. Mercedes has expressed concerns about the system being used as a catch-up mechanism rather than a tool for significant leaps in performance.
