The 2026 Formula 1 season has seen Mercedes emerge as the dominant force, winning seven of the first nine races. This success has sparked controversy regarding the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) system, which was designed to prevent one team from achieving overwhelming dominance. Audi’s Formula 1 boss, Mattia Binotto has called for a reevaluation of the system, arguing that it may not be fulfilling its intended purpose.
The ADUO system, introduced to level the playing field, allows manufacturers trailing in engine performance to receive upgrade tokens and financial allowances. However, Binotto believes the current implementation has flaws, particularly in how performance is measured and how upgrades are allocated. He suggests that the system may inadvertently benefit teams that are already ahead, rather than helping those struggling to catch up.
Audi’s Concerns with the ADUO System
Binotto’s primary concern is that the ADUO system measures performance exclusively on track, which may not accurately reflect the true potential of a power unit. He posits that a team with a car advantage might not need to fully exploit their engine’s capabilities, thereby gaining additional development margins. This could create a situation where leading teams have more opportunities to improve, while those needing help are left behind.
“In my opinion, the limit has been that it has exclusively measured performance on the track,” Binotto explained. “A car with an It’s possible that Mercedes had an engine with superior potential but had no need to push it to the limit because it already had an advantage thanks to the car.”
Binotto emphasizes that the original intent of ADUO was to serve as a safety net for manufacturers falling behind, not to create situations where the true potential of a power unit is difficult to assess. He acknowledges the FIA’s efforts but believes the system has strayed from its original premise.
The Impact on Red Bull and Other Manufacturers
The FIA’s initial assessment placed Red Bull Ford Powertrains at the top of the ICE Performance Index locking them out of further upgrades. This decision has been contested by Red Bull, but additional reviews have not changed the FIA’s findings. Meanwhile, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda have qualified for upgrades, raising suspicions that leading manufacturers might be holding back engine performance to game the system.
Binotto is not questioning the FIA’s findings but rather the system’s design. He notes that the original objective of ADUO was to provide a structured route for trailing suppliers to catch up without political flare-ups. However, the current implementation may not be achieving this goal effectively.
“When it was first discussed, the concept was that of a sort of safety net,” Binotto added. “If a manufacturer was far behind at the start of the regulatory cycle, with regulations virtually frozen and very little room for development, it would risk dragging that disadvantage for five years.”
The Financial Dimension of ADUO
The ADUO system includes a financial dimension, with manufacturers receiving Cost Cap allowances scaled to the size of their deficit. For example, manufacturers two to four percent behind receive up to USD 3.0 million, while those ten percent or more behind receive up to USD 11.0 million per ADUO period. These allowances can only be spent on specific upgrade work approved during the ADUO window.
However, the system’s sliding scale affords manufacturers upgrade tokens for every two percent their V6 engine is down on power. This creates an environment where manufacturers could radically improve their
The FIA was keen to take more factors into account when coming up with the ADUO system, but it was the manufacturers who backed the idea to stick to V6 power as the determining factor. This decision has led to the current controversy, with Binotto calling for a rethink of the regulation to better align with its original intent.
