FIA names Red Bull top F1 power unit and grants upgrades to Mercedes and rivals

The FIA completed its assessment of the 2026 Formula 1 power‑unit programme under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system. Red Bull‑Ford’s DM01 was judged the best engine, with Mercedes placed about 2 % behind, Ferrari, Audi and Honda further back. As a result, Mercedes will receive one ADUO upgrade for 2026 and another for 2027, while Ferrari, Audi and Honda each obtain two upgrades for both years. The upgrades consist of extra testing hours on the engine‑test bench and additional budget relief, for example Honda will get 230 extra hours and $11 million. Despite Mercedes winning the first six races of the season, the FIA’s engine‑only evaluation does not deem its unit the strongest. Seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton echoed the FIA’s ranking, noting the gap and the need for months of development to close it.