During the Monaco weekend the FIA disclosed which 2026 power‑unit manufacturers qualify for the ADUO catch‑up programme. Red Bull topped the V6 performance chart, followed by Mercedes and Ferrari, while all other OEMs fell further behind. The governing body sent a formal letter confirming the rankings and the allocation of upgrade tokens for the next quarter. These tokens grant extra dyno time and cost‑cap flexibility.

Under ADUO, each quarter the FIA ranks the five V6 units using secret performance metrics and awards tokens on a sliding 2 % scale. Mercedes, 2‑4 % off Red Bull’s DM01, receives one token worth up to $3 million in extra development. All other manufacturers lag 4‑10 % and earn two tokens, with allowances rising to $8 million for the largest deficits.

The system aims to stop another long‑run power‑unit gap like Honda’s 2017 struggle, but critics argue even a 2 % deficit creates political maneuvering. Red Bull has already asked the FIA to review its placement, while Mercedes can focus on chassis and hybrid efficiency without touching its V6. The ADUO rollout will test whether modest upgrades can truly level the field this season.