The FIA has officially confirmed that Mercedes has been granted permission to implement engine upgrades, despite strong objections from rival teams.
This decision stems from the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, introduced for the 2026 season. This regulatory framework allows engine manufacturers to close performance gaps relative to the leading power unit throughout the season cycle.
In June, following the first performance assessment covering the initial five races of the season, the FIA determined that Red Bull possessed the most powerful engine. Consequently, upgrade opportunities were allocated to Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda.
Although the FIA did not publicly release these initial findings, the results were confirmed by teams and drivers, and subsequently leaked via a document, sparking widespread discussion in the paddock.
The ruling was highly controversial, as the paddock consensus suggested that Mercedes—whose works team had already won the first six races of the season—was being handed an advantage, while Red Bull, struggling with just a single podium in that period, faced the prospect of falling further behind.
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Highlights from the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen publicly criticized the assessment, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff questioned the FIA’s evaluation methodology, asserting in July that his team possessed ‘the most powerful power unit.’
The governing body held back from officially validating the results during an ongoing review. However, with the second assessment period concluding at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break, the FIA has now released the findings for both evaluation phases.
According to an official FIA statement, Mercedes was determined to fall within the two to four percent window for the first period. Consequently, they are authorized for one additional homologation in 2026 and another in 2027, accompanied by corresponding adjustments to their cost cap and dyno testing limits. In contrast, Audi, Ferrari, and Honda were classified above the four percent threshold, earning them two additional homologations for both 2026 and 2027, along with similar cost cap and dyno testing increases.
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While the first part of the statement merely confirmed details leaked in June, the findings for the second period delivered a significant blow to Red Bull’s aspirations.
If any rival team’s upgrades since June had been deemed to surpass Red Bull’s performance, the Milton Keynes-based team would have qualified for its own upgrade opportunity.
However, the FIA’s statement declared: ‘For the second period, no additional homologations were granted to any of the Power Unit Manufacturers.’
This indicates that Red Bull is considered to be performing within two percent of the top engine’s performance, and may still hold the title of the strongest power unit on the grid.
In the drivers’ standings, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with a 59-point advantage over his teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, Verstappen sits in sixth place, trailing the leader by a substantial 130 points.
Mercedes maintains a commanding 87-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ championship. Third-placed McLaren, powered by Mercedes engines, has shown strong recent form, with reigning world champion Lando Norris securing victories in the last two races.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show podcast, Bernie Collins believes Lando Norris is still in the title fight after his recent improvement with two back-to-back wins.
Mercedes has been cleared to utilize its 2026 upgrade since the initial results were shared in June, though it is believed they have not yet deployed it. Meanwhile, Ferrari, Audi, and Honda are each thought to have introduced one of their two permitted 2026 upgrades.
FIA Director of Single Seaters, Nikolas Tombazis, emphasized the rigor of the process, stating: ‘The FIA has undertaken thorough and exhaustive analysis as part of our ADUO review process. With the release of the findings of period two, we are confident that, based on the quality of the data, its analysis is incredibly robust, giving us a high level of confidence in our findings. We also have to respect the confidentiality and intellectual property of the teams and their Power Unit Manufacturers in disseminating any details from the findings. This is the first year of ADUO so naturally there are areas which we may evolve over time, in discussion with all the PU Manufacturers’
The third ADUO review period began with the Dutch Grand Prix over the weekend and will conclude at the Mexico City Grand Prix on November 1.
Formula 1 heads to Monza for Ferrari’s home race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1.
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