Leaders Mercedes granted engine upgrades, none for Red Bull

Mercedes has been granted engine upgrade allowances under the FIA’s ADUO mechanism, while Red Bull received none, after the governing body concluded Red Bull’s power unit was the benchmark. The FIA published its findings of Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities on Wednesday, allowing Mercedes one extra 2026 engine homologation and another in 2027, with higher cost-cap and dyno testing allowances. ADUO triggers additional upgrades when a manufacturer’s internal combustion engine falls at least 2% behind the best-performing unit across defined review periods. Mercedes were in a 2-4% window after the first period; Audi, Ferrari and Honda exceeded 4%. Red Bull was not listed. Mercedes lead Ferrari by 87 points, with McLaren third, while Red Bull trails by 239.