Red Bull has opened the door to further discussions with the FIA and Formula 1's power unit manufacturers over the future of the Additional Upgrade and Development Opportunities, or ADUO, regulations.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies believes the system can still be developed after its first implementation under the new 2026 power unit regulations. The team would welcome another round of talks with the FIA and its rivals over how the framework could be refined.
Under the initial ADUO assessment, Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) was deemed by the FIA to be the benchmark in the area measured by the system. However, RBPT was not granted any ADUO allowance for either the 2026 or 2027 seasons.
Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, meanwhile, received one ADUO allowance for each of the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Audi, Ferrari and Honda were each awarded two development opportunities per year after being assessed as further behind RBPT and Mercedes under the FIA's criteria.
Red Bull Wants the Discussion to Continue
The decision not to grant RBPT an ADUO allowance raised questions within Red Bull. Mekies said the team has already made its position clear to the FIA and the other power unit manufacturers, but now wants to focus on maximising what can be achieved under the existing rules.
"We will certainly welcome a discussion on making them evolve. I'm sure that sooner or later we'll have these discussions with the FIA and the PU manufacturers," Mekies said.
Red Bull has already outlined where it believes there is agreement and where differences remain over the current framework.
"At some stage, we need to concentrate on ourselves and do the best job possible with the regulations we have," Mekies added.
ADUO only measures the internal combustion engine side of the power unit. The system does not account for the battery systems, despite the electrical component contributing around half of the total power output under the 2026 regulations.
Audi Also Sees Room for ADUO Improvements
Red Bull's position has also been given additional context by Audi. The German manufacturer is competing in its first Formula 1 season with an internally developed power unit and has been granted two ADUO allowances per year.
Audi boss Mattia Binotto believes the concept remains important, although he agrees that the system requires further refinement.
Binotto explained that ADUO was initially designed as a safety net for manufacturers that were behind, while also helping the power unit field move towards greater convergence.
"The ADUO concept is still valid. Fine-tuning is required," Binotto said.
According to Binotto, the regulations need to continue evolving so that development opportunities remain aligned with their original purpose as both a safety net and a mechanism for convergence.
"How to develop better regulation, I think, is exactly the discussion we need to have with the FIA," he added.
With both Red Bull and Audi now acknowledging the potential for refinement, ADUO could become a subject of further discussions between the FIA and Formula 1's power unit manufacturers as the new engine regulations continue to take shape.
Baca Juga
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