The FIA is due to announce which power unit manufacturers will be aided by the first ADUO boost, but what is it, and why will it be so valuable to the F1 teams?
The FIA is about to reveal the beneficiaries of the ADUO programme, which can be a crucial lifeline for teams relying on certain power unit suppliers in the fierce development battles of the 2026-2030 era in Formula 1. ADUO aims to prevent a single supplier’s dominance as seen with Mercedes in the early turbo-hybrid era from 2014 onwards. The programme works by assessing ICE performance, and a deficit of 2% or more compared to the benchmark unit grants manufacturers additional development opportunities and cost cap allocations.
Based on performance deficits, manufacturers can earn upgrades and cost cap boosts ranging from $3 million to $11 million as part of the ADUO programme, offering a fair playing field while avoiding artificial equalization like Balance of Performance systems in other racing series. Mercedes currently leads the constructor standings with a significant lead over Ferrari, with the latter possibly benefiting from ADUO to bridge the power unit performance gap. The ADUO system provides a structured approach to fostering competition and innovation in Formula 1 power unit development for a more exciting and level playing field.
