Red Bull Ford Powertrains’ unexpected emergence as Formula 1’s benchmark internal combustion engine supplier has reignited the debate surrounding the sport’s controversial ADUO regulations. However, evidence suggests that the FIA anticipated this scenario months ago.
Recent reports have revealed that Red Bull has been assessed as having the strongest internal combustion engine among Formula 1 manufacturers under the current 2026 power unit regulations. This outcome took many in the paddock by surprise, particularly given Mercedes‘ dominant performance and their well-known reputation for having the strongest overall power unit package.
The result also has an unintended consequence. As Red Bull is now the benchmark manufacturer for combustion engine performance, its rivals, including Mercedes, remain eligible for development concessions under the ADUO system, which is designed to help manufacturers close performance gaps.
However, according to comments made earlier this year by Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s Single-Seater Director, the governing body had originally proposed a far more sophisticated way of measuring performance, but the manufacturers opted for a simpler alternative.
Why Red Bull’s engine ranking surprised the paddock
The FIA’s assessment focuses on internal combustion engine performance rather than the complete power unit package.
This distinction has become increasingly important under Formula 1’s current regulations, in which electrical deployment, battery efficiency, and energy recovery systems contribute significantly to overall performance.
Consequently, Red Bull’s benchmark status has raised eyebrows across the paddock.
Mercedes is widely regarded as the leading power unit manufacturer under the current rules, translating that advantage into strong on-track results. However, according to the FIA’s calculations, it is Red Bull’s combustion engine that has emerged as the new benchmark.
This means that Mercedes could gain additional development opportunities through ADUO, even though they are already considered one of the strongest manufacturers on the grid.
The FIA originally wanted a more complex & comprehensive system of measure
The current controversy becomes more understandable when viewed against revelations made earlier this season. Tombazis revealed that the FIA had initially proposed a more detailed methodology for evaluating power unit performance.
Rather than focusing primarily on the output of the combustion engine, the governing body wanted to include additional variables that influence real-world performance, as reported by Motorsport Italia back in April.
These reportedly included factors such as turbocharger characteristics, plenum temperatures, and other technical parameters that contribute to overall competitiveness.
However, the manufacturers rejected this proposal in favour of a simpler measurement system.
At the time, the decision appeared largely procedural. Now, following Red Bull’s benchmark designation and the subsequent debate, the decision has taken on far greater significance.
Why Mercedes could still be the biggest winner
The irony of the current situation is difficult to ignore. Red Bull’s reward for producing the benchmark combustion engine is effectively losing access to development opportunities that remain available to rivals.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will likely strengthen their already competitive package through the ADUO mechanisms with at least an additional upgrade this year, with another the following year.
Critics argue that this highlights a fundamental weakness in the current framework. Focusing solely on combustion engine performance may not accurately reflect the competitive landscape in an era where electrical power significantly impacts lap times.
This also raises questions about whether the regulations are achieving their intended objective of helping weaker manufacturers to catch up.
Calls for an ADUO review are likely to grow
As Formula 1’s engine manufacturers continue to develop their 2026 power units, the pressure on the FIA to revisit how benchmark performance is assessed is likely to increase.
The governing body’s earlier proposal is now particularly relevant, given the debate triggered by Red Bull’s ranking.
Whether the FIA will alter the regulations remains to be seen. Any significant changes would require agreement from stakeholders and could prove politically sensitive.
However, it is already clear that Red Bull’s surprise benchmark designation has exposed a controversy that the FIA appears to have anticipated long before the current debate erupted.
The sport now faces a fundamental question: should Formula 1 continue to measure only one part of a modern power unit, or is it time to adopt a more comprehensive system that reflects the complexity of today’s hybrid technology?
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
Does it this just HIGHLIGHT the total debacle that is the 2026 F1 regulations?
Just what IS the point of continuing with this farce … ? Enough is enough