Mercedes readies ADUO as the reliability crisis intensifies.
Mercedes is reportedly getting ready to roll out an enhanced ADUO power unit for Monza, as reliability issues and increased performance expectations jeopardize its promising start to the 2026 season. The updated power unit is believed to include modifications to the combustion chamber, turbocharger, and Petronas fuel, even though Mercedes had initially intended to pause further ADUO development to concentrate on 2027.
The FIA has determined that Red Bull-Ford has the most robust internal combustion engine, although the legality and implementation of ADUO are still under debate. Max Verstappen confirmed Red Bull is continuing discussions with the FIA regarding this matter. "You mentioned the engine," he stated. "I would also love to have some ADUO. Yeah, somehow. But that's... I don’t know. We'll see. We'll take another look after the break."
For Mercedes, an upgrade could be introduced at the Italian GP, but championship leader Kimi Antonelli has already reached the allowable limit of four power units, meaning he would face a grid penalty. Ferrari is also reportedly working on an ADUO upgrade alongside a new low-downforce rear wing for Monza.
Sky Deutschland analyst Ralf Schumacher remarked that Mercedes cannot afford to postpone its next significant upgrade any longer. "When we talk about upgrades, I found it intriguing what Toto Wolff said. He immediately pointed out that they need to consider the budget cap."
"That's very interesting. Apparently, they are already tight on funds, although I can hardly believe that in July or August." Schumacher noted that Wolff had earlier referenced Ferrari and expressed confusion over how they continue to upgrade. He stressed the urgent need for Mercedes to implement an upgrade.
Reliability is also a critical issue, with Antonelli and George Russell already on their fourth engines. Russell required a replacement in Hungary after a water leak was discovered following Q3, and Wolff acknowledged that the damaged unit was "quite badly damaged" and may not be salvageable.
Wolff remains optimistic that Mercedes can avoid penalties by reverting to previously used components but recognized that Monza might be a reasonable opportunity for another engine introduction. "There’s one (race) that’s very special for Kimi, but it seems like a good place to take an engine change penalty," commented the Mercedes boss.
"So I need to discuss with (father) Marco about whether we want to take the penalty in Monza. We could relieve some pressure by starting from the back," Wolff joked. "But the reality is that our reliability simply hasn’t been sufficient. Whether we accept a penalty or not remains to be seen."
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