FIA Amends F1 ADUO Regulations Following Calendar Revisions
The FIA has formally revised the regulations surrounding Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) in response to significant adjustments to the Formula 1 race calendar.
The ADUO system was implemented ahead of the current season to coincide with the introduction of the sport’s new power unit regulations. The framework is designed to provide targeted development support to engine manufacturers that fall significantly behind the benchmark performance.
Initial regulations dictated that the FIA would assess engine performance at three specific intervals during the season: after rounds six, 12 and 18. However, the cancellation of both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix has provisionally reduced the championship to 22 races.
Consequently, the governing body has brought forward the first two assessment periods. The initial review will now take place after round five in Canada. The second assessment is scheduled following round 11 in Hungary, while the final review point remains unchanged and will occur after round 18 at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Revised development allocations
The FIA has also introduced a further amendment regarding the allocation of development time. Manufacturers determined to be more than 10% behind the leading power unit will now be granted an additional 230 operation hours.
The revised allocation structure operates on a sliding scale based on the performance deficit:
- Less than 2%: 0 hours
- 2 to 4%: 70 hours
- 4 to 6%: 110 hours
- 6 to 8%: 150 hours
- 8 to 10%: 190 hours
- 10% or greater: 230 hours
Honda is widely expected to be the primary beneficiary of the revised framework as the manufacturer has trailed the benchmark significantly since returning to the grid.
While the ADUO system has broad support among power unit suppliers, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has cautioned that the mechanism must remain strictly an equalisation tool to help struggling competitors catch up rather than a means to artificially alter the competitive order.
