Red Bull Ford Powertrains has been confirmed as the fastest V6 combustion engine in Formula 1, following fresh data released by Motorsport.com.
Benchmark Analysis
After the Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA measured every V6 power unit and determined the benchmark performance. For each 2 % that an engine lags behind the leader, manufacturers gain homologation tokens: extra dyno hours and cost‑cap allowances to work outside the normal build windows. These findings must be published 14 days after the Canadian round, with an announcement expected this Monday.
Tokens and Deficits
Lewis Hamilton revealed that Red Bull Ford Powertrains tops the rankings, with Mercedes second and Ferrari third. Motorsport.com reports Mercedes’ deficit exceeds 2 %, qualifying it for one upgrade token under the ADUO system, while Ferrari trails by over 4 %, earning two tokens. Audi and Honda are believed to be even further behind, though the extent of their support remains uncertain.
Developer Implications
Hamilton cautioned that ADUO is not a silver bullet. “It’s an eight‑to‑ten‑month project,” he told Sky Sports F1. “We’ll push to close the gap, but it won’t happen next week.” ADUO was originally conceived to avoid a scenario like Honda’s 2017 season, yet the sliding‑scale approach has introduced new political dynamics.
The allocation of upgrade tokens will be the pivotal element in the next phases of development.
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