Audi’s F1 chief, Mattia Binotto, has publicly urged the FIA to rethink the ADUO upgrade mechanism after Mercedes secured extra power‑unit modifications, a move that locked Red Bull out of further developments.
Binotto Critiques FIA’s Upgrade Rules
Binotto contends that the ADUO framework has drifted from its original purpose of assisting lagging teams and instead rewards manufacturers that already possess vehicle dominance. “The system only evaluates V6 power on the track, allowing a team like Mercedes to exploit untapped potential without requiring a track‑based advantage,” he explained.
He argues that Mercedes could have pushed its engine’s hidden capacity, thereby accumulating additional upgrade tokens that Red Bull, whose Ford Powertrains were deemed the benchmark, remains barred from. This mismatch, Binotto asserts, undermines the intended performance convergence.
Mercedes Advantage Explained
Mercedes’ V6 engine, measured through the ADUO sliding scale, affords one token per two percent deficit in power. The factory has leveraged this by overhauling its hybrid components, thereby not boosting the V6 metric yet receiving comprehensive upgrades.
When the FIA assessed the Ford Powertrains, the same benchmark criteria excluded further work beyond the homologation limits, leaving Red Bull’s car on a fixed developmental trajectory even as its overall power unit could improve.
Red Bull’s Standpoint
Red Bull has contested the decision, demanding a review that acknowledges the engineering value and potential of its power unit. The FIA’s additional assessments, however, have upheld the original findings, keeping the German outfit frozen in the upgraded slot.
At the heart of the dispute lies manufacturers’ speculation that Mercedes and Ferrari deliberately retain power‑unit performance to game the upgrade scheme, thereby compromising competitiveness.
Future of ADUO System
Binotto emphasizes that the ADUO’s original aim was to level the playing field over a five‑year regulatory cycle, offering extra wind‑tunnel hours to teams that lagged by a margin. He calls for a revision that incorporates hybrid performance into token allocation, ensuring that both V6 and overall engine gains are transparently measured.
The discourse underscores the need for FIA to re‑align the upgrade programme with its foundational goal of balanced competition, or accept that the current arrangement might perpetuate a divisive gap between front‑running and chasing teams.
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