The FIA announced immediate changes to the performance balancing system of Formula 1 power units, following the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs. The changes directly affect the manufacturers’ evaluation points and extend the extra development hours for those who are far behind the competition.
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The so-called ADUO system, acronym for Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, was created before the season to offer additional support to engine suppliers with below-expected performance. The measure gained importance in this first year of the new power unit regulations, as all manufacturers use completely new designs.
Initially, the FIA planned three evaluation points throughout the season, after the sixth, twelfth, and eighteenth rounds of the championship. However, with the calendar reduced to 22 races after the cancellations in the Middle East, the schedule had to be adjusted.
Now, the first official analysis will take place after the Canadian GP, the fifth round of the season. The second checkpoint will be after the Hungarian GP, the 11th race of the year, while the last evaluation remains scheduled after the Mexico City GP.
In addition to the change in evaluation dates, the FIA also increased the extra development hours allocated to manufacturers who are far from the performance benchmark. Suppliers with a deficit greater than 10% will receive 230 additional hours for technical development.
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The new model establishes different compensation ranges. Manufacturers with a disadvantage between 2% and 4% will have 70 extra hours, while differences between 4% and 6% will yield 110 additional hours. The package gradually increases until reaching the new ceiling of 230 hours for those exceeding a 10% deficit.
According to the text, the main beneficiary of the change may be Honda. With Red Bull Racing’s switch to Aston Martin under the new engine regulations, it became evident early in the season that the Japanese manufacturer faces difficulties compared to competitors.
Thus, Honda appears as one of the most likely candidates to use the reinforcement allowed by ADUO, to accelerate the development of its power unit throughout the Formula 1 championship.
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