FIA Confirms Red Bull Ford Engine Benchmark in Second ADUO Review

The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull Ford's internal combustion engine remains the benchmark in Formula 1, a finding that has granted rival manufacturers, including championship leader Mercedes, additional development opportunities under the sport's new equalization system. The governing body announced on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, that its second review period under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) mechanism has concluded with no change to the rankings, meaning no new homologations were awarded.

The ADUO system, introduced with the 2026 power unit regulations, is designed to prevent a single manufacturer from establishing an insurmountable advantage. It compares the performance of each manufacturer's internal combustion engine (ICE) against the best-performing unit. A deficit of between 2% and 4% grants one additional engine homologation for the current season and one for 2027, while a deficit greater than 4% triggers two homologations for each year. These upgrades come with extra cost cap allowances and additional dynamometer testing.

The first review period, which concluded after the Canadian Grand Prix in May, identified Red Bull Ford as the...