The director of Audi F1, Mattia Binotto, has requested the FIA to review the ADUO upgrade system, which allows engine manufacturers to make modifications to their engines. This request comes after Mercedes has been able to implement more improvements, while other manufacturers, such as Red Bull Ford Powertrains, have become stuck in their homologation.
Currently, Mercedes’ engine is considered the most powerful in the 2026 championship, helping the team to win seven of the first nine races. The current system only measures V6 engines to determine which manufacturers are eligible for upgrades, which has generated controversy in the FIA audit.
Binotto has expressed his displeasure, arguing that the current performance measure allows teams like Mercedes to not fully exploit the potential of their engines, without needing to push them to the limit. This could have created additional development leeway, leading to an inequality in the championship.
The Audi leader underscored that the original goal of ADUO was to provide support to manufacturers that were at the back, preventing them from falling behind during a practically frozen regulatory cycle. With the current system, those who are further up in the standings gain more development opportunities, which calls into question the balance of competition.
Binotto reminded that in the initial discussion about the ADUO system, the focus was on enabling those who needed improvement to do so. The performance of hours in the wind tunnel and improvements in hybrid components reflect this line, with the promise of balances that could help make a tighter championship.
In conclusion, Binotto’s proposal does not question the work done by the FIA, but he considers that adjustments are necessary to make the system a better ally for competition again.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
