FIA ADUO Results 2026: Red Bull-Ford Named F1's Best Engine

The FIA has made its latest Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities evaluation public, and on paper, Red Bull-Ford holds the title of Formula 1's most powerful internal combustion engine. The governing body's analysis covers all races from the Melbourne season opener through to round 11 in Budapest, and the findings place the Red Bull-Ford unit ahead of every rival on raw ICE output.

Engine Power Rankings Across F1 Grid

Mercedes sits 2-4% down on power, while Audi, Ferrari and Honda are more than 4% adrift of the benchmark. Honda's brand-new powertrain, introduced at last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, was not included in this assessment. No additional homologations have been awarded in this second period — though after the first quarter of the season, Mercedes had been granted one extra homologation each for 2026 and 2027, while Audi, Ferrari and Honda each received two for both years. Those come in the form of additional cost cap allowance and extra dyno time.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis described the analysis as thorough and robust, while noting that confidentiality obligations limit how much detail can be shared publicly. He acknowledged this is ADUO's first year in operation and that the process may evolve in consultation with the power unit manufacturers.

FIA Analysis Contradicts On-Track Performance

The ranking, though, creates an uncomfortable contradiction. Mercedes has widely been regarded as carrying the strongest package on straights, something Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies acknowledged openly after the Belgian Grand Prix — stating that Mercedes had a sizeable straight-line advantage and that this was not an isolated weekend. Even Toto Wolff had let slip that his team possesses the most powerful power unit, a comment that predates ADUO's scope. Red Bull have already pushed back, requesting a review of the post-Canada results, which was rejected.

The structural flaw in ADUO is plain: it only measures the internal combustion element, not the full hybrid system that actually drives these cars. That gap between what the data captures and what teams experience on track is precisely why the ranking feels hollow to those being ranked highest. Red Bull sit fourth in the championship standings with 186 points, well behind Mercedes on 425, which tells the fuller story of where performance actually lives right now.

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is next on the F1 calendar — and with Ferrari desperate to bounce back after their Dutch GP difficulties, the Scuderia will be hoping the real-world picture finally begins to match their upgraded hardware.