Red Bull may choose not to introduce a performance update to its power unit in the short term, even with the possibility opened by the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) regulation. The rule allows improvements for manufacturers that are more than 2% below Formula 1’s reference engine.
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It is not yet clear whether Red Bull Ford meets this criterion in relation to Mercedes. Even if it does, there is a considerable chance that the team will not immediately use this opportunity.
Internally, the assessment is that the engine does not represent the car’s main limitation at the moment. Therefore, the priority should be to adjust and improve the chassis, leaving any power unit updates for later. On Monday, the international portal I reported that ADUO could be brought forward, which would expand development possibilities for some teams.
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Although an in-season update is not ruled out, the current scenario indicates that only Honda should be above the 2% margin. The Japanese manufacturer, which supplies engines to Aston Martin, continues to work on improvements and should launch a new unit as soon as permitted.
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