FIA’s ADUO safety net aims to aid lagging power units – Mercedes demands transparency, Ferrari eyes upgrade

The FIA has added the Additional Design and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) rule to stop another 2014‑style power‑unit crisis. Every six races, any engine 2‑4% off the benchmark gets one extra upgrade; a shortfall over 4% earns two.

Why it matters:

• Keeps the grid competitive by preventing a single power‑unit from dominating.
• Gives struggling manufacturers a safety net, preserving technical diversity.
• Misapplied, the rule could reshuffle the championship, so transparency is essential.

The details:

• ADUO performance is measured every six races by comparing pure ICE output.
• A 2‑4% power deficit earns one extra design window; a gap over 4% earns two.
• Mercedes boss Toto Wolff stresses the rule must be applied with absolute precision and transparency, warning against gamesmanship.
• Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur sees ADUO as a chance to close the gap on Mercedes, while Wolff argues only Honda truly needs help.

What's next:

• The FIA will analyse data after each six‑race block and announce any ADUO upgrades before the next event.
• If Honda gets upgrades, the Mercedes gap could narrow; if Ferrari qualifies, its extra development may intensify the podium fight.