APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
FIA Confirms Red Bull As F1 Engine Benchmark In Latest ADUO Review
The governing body has published its engine ranking findings, denying Red Bull extra development opportunities while granting upgrades to rivals.
By Sanne Vermeer - 2026-08-26T15:48:45.000Z - 2 min read
The governing body of Formula 1 has officially published the findings of its power unit performance evaluations, confirming that Red Bull-Ford Powertrains remains classified as the leading engine manufacturer under the sport's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities framework.
Two distinct review periods were detailed in the announcement, with the first assessment concluding after the Canadian Grand Prix and the second concluding after the Hungarian Grand Prix. The outcome leaves Red Bull without any permission to upgrade its debut power unit before the conclusion of the 2026 season, dealing a blow to the Milton Keynes operation.
When initial indications of the rankings surfaced following the Monaco Grand Prix, considerable surprise rippled through the paddock. General consensus among teams had pointed toward Mercedes as the benchmark performer given its strong start to the championship. This prompted Red Bull to formally request a factual review of the data.
Team principal Laurent Mekies had previously argued that there was not a single data point supporting the conclusion that Red Bull held the strongest power unit on the grid. Despite those protests and a delayed public rollout, the governing body has now solidified its stance by releasing the official evaluation outcomes.
Under the established ADUO parameters, manufacturers falling into specific performance deficits are granted remedial development rights. Mercedes was found to sit within the two to four percent deficit window, securing a single power unit upgrade for 2026 alongside two homologations for 2027, plus increased cost cap and dyno testing allowances.
Meanwhile, rival manufacturers Ferrari, Audi and Honda were evaluated as sitting beyond the four percent threshold. That placement entitles each of those three power unit suppliers to two separate upgrades for both the current campaign and the upcoming 2027 season.
Nikolas Tombazis, the single-seaters director for the governing body, defended the integrity of the data and expressed full confidence in the methodology used. Pointing out the exhaustive nature of the evaluations, Tombazis emphasized that protecting the intellectual property of the competing manufacturers necessitates keeping specific performance index measurements confidential.
With the release of these findings, attention now turns to the final evaluation window of the year. A third ADUO review period is scheduled to take place following the Mexico City Grand Prix, where further adjustments to development rights could be determined based on late-season performance trends.