FIA grants no new engine allowances in third 2026 review

The FIA says its third review of Formula 1’s 2026 Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) scheme resulted in no new engine homologation allowances for power-unit manufacturers. The review covered races 12 to 18 and concluded after the United States Grand Prix.

The FIA said the relative performance gaps between manufacturers’ internal-combustion engines and the leading engine changed during the review period, but not enough to trigger additional homologations. It did not publish the performance-index measurements, citing their confidential nature.

ADUO is part of Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations. It assesses internal-combustion engine performance at three points during the season and can grant manufacturers whose engines fall behind the leader extra upgrade opportunities, as well as additional cost-cap and engine-testing allowances.

The first review, which concluded after the Canadian Grand Prix, was the only one to result in extra allowances. The FIA assessed Mercedes as 2% to 4% behind the leading engine, while Audi, Ferrari and Honda were more than 4% behind. Mercedes received one additional homologation opportunity for 2026 and one for 2027; the other...