The FIA has slightly adjusted the F1 engine regulations. The governing body hopes to help struggling Honda reduce the gap to the other engine manufacturers. Thanks to the rule changes, the Japanese manufacturer – currently more than ten percent behind the current reference engine from Mercedes – is allowed, among other things, to spend more money on engine development under the cost cap.
The FIA had already spoken with the engine manufacturers about ways to give struggling Honda a helping hand. The Japanese engine manufacturer is working with Aston Martin for the first time this season. The British team was only able to finish a race with one driver, Fernando Alonso during the Japanese GP, in the first three Grands Prix of the year. Although there was a slight upward trend to be seen in Miami – both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll crossed the finish line – Honda is still far behind the other engine manufacturers.
The rule changes have now been approved by the FIA’s World Motorsport Council – with the consent of Honda’s competitors – giving the Japanese engine manufacturer extra development time and financial support. Honda is estimated to be more than ten percent behind the reference engine. The maximum allowance for extra spending within the cost cap has been increased to 11 million dollars for constructors who are ten percent or more behind. The previous limit was 8 million dollars for anyone who was more than eight percent behind. A one-time allowance has also been included for an additional development budget of 8 million dollars, exclusively for 2026.
New dates for ADUO rule
For the 2026 season, the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities rule was introduced for the first time, allowing engine manufacturers who are behind to be allocated extra development opportunities by the FIA. The governing body assesses every six races which manufacturers qualify for these development opportunities, but due to the canceled Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, the first assessment moment has now been postponed.
Originally, the moment would have been after the Miami GP – the sixth race of the season – but now the FIA will review the pecking order among the engine manufacturers after the Canadian GP. Although the Monaco GP is now the sixth race of the season after the calendar revision, the governing body considers that too late for the first moment to give struggling engine manufacturers a helping hand. The next two assessment moments for further applications of the ADUO rule will now be after the Hungarian GP in July and the Mexican GP in November.
Read all about the Canadian GP here
