Audi questions the competitive edge of Mercedes' ADUO.

      Audi chief Mattia Binotto has raised doubts about whether Mercedes has strategically positioned itself to gain an advantage from Formula 1’s contentious ADUO engine concession system.

      According to the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities rules, manufacturers lagging behind the leading engine are allowed extra development opportunities to narrow the performance gap. Following the FIA's evaluation, Red Bull-Ford was identified as having the strongest combustion engine, which means competitors like Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, and Audi are eligible for differing degrees of ADUO support.

      "While it was clear that Red Bull had a superior engine, it's important to note that Mercedes’s engine is also strong," Binotto told f1-insider.com. "It’s possible they haven’t fully leveraged its reliability potential or other factors, as they have skillfully secured this ADUO benefit."

      The Italian also expressed skepticism about the concession system itself. "Having an advantage has led to a lack of incentive to continue pushing forward," he stated. "That's the limitation of the current regulations." He suggested that additional upgrades should be allocated based on a ranking system, similar to how it operates with the chassis, stating, "There’s no avoiding that."

      Audi has already implemented its initial ADUO upgrades, showcasing revised components in Barcelona that focused on an updated turbocharger aimed at enhancing drivability. However, Audi’s racing director, Allan McNish, indicated that the second upgrade might not be ready until the next season. "We understand our position," he stated to Auto Motor und Sport. "Our first power unit is proving to be quite reliable, and the initial issues have now been resolved. Changes like those in Barcelona are minor but significant."

      When asked about the next ADUO advancement, he replied, "It’s likely that the next substantial step won't occur until 2027."

      Honda appears to be adopting a similar cautious strategy, even though it has qualified for two ADUO upgrades this year. "We concentrated on executing several updates," said Honda’s chief race engineer, Shintaro Orihara, regarding the first package. "After the summer break, we plan to adopt a different strategy for next year." He added, "Rather than making small periodic updates, we are establishing a long-term roadmap to boost our performance." Until then, he noted, "We need to continue refining our strategy before bringing in a new power unit."

      Partnering with Aston Martin, there’s also a reluctance to pursue frequent updates like their competitors, preferring to adhere to Adrian Newey’s strategy of waiting for a more substantial package later in the season. "I have enough on my plate with our own team, so I don’t focus much on others’ actions," team principal Mike Krack mentioned. "If they keep developing at this pace, we all know we will eventually need to start with a new car. Still, I can’t speculate about other teams’ strategies."

      Krack acknowledged that the wait for Aston Martin’s next major upgrade is "purely psychological." "We’re currently at about 80 or 90 percent of the performance of the others, so we’re not that far off. Let’s say there’s a light at the end of the tunnel." He expressed determination, stating, "We’ll manage through the next two races with our existing situation. Naturally, I’m disappointed, but we made this decision together."