Honda set to lose $3million in upgrades as Aston Martin miss out on ADUO boost.
12th June 2026Honda is expected to lose $3 Million in upgrades after missing out on the threshold for an extra boost in relation to the ADUO findings.
Feature image credit: Pirelli
A tricky season has just got even harder for Aston Martin, as a potential path to restoration in their engine deficit has seemingly disappeared. Despite scoring their first point of the 2026 campaign last time out in Monaco, the road back to competitiveness for Aston Martin now looks extremely unlikely any time soon.
The ADUO ruling, which was brought in to help struggling engine suppliers catch up to the front of the field, has found Honda to not meet the required threshold of a 10% deficit to the best engine on the grid, according to the BBC. As a result, Honda will not receive the maximum aid offered to help bring Aston Martin closer to being competitive again.
What is ADUO?
ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), is a system that has been bought in by the FIA this season, to help combat the discrepancies between power unit performance out on track.
It is measured against the lead-performing engine and granted incrementally to teams found to have more than a 2% deficit. Surprisingly, the FIA tests discovered that Red Bull had the best engine, ahead of Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi and Honda.
The FIA were careful in expressing that the new rulings were not aimed at providing performance gains, as FIA Single Seater Director, Nikolas Tombazis stated:
“It’s important to make clear that ADUO is not a kind of balance of performance mechanism. A team or manufacturer will not suddenly get greater fuel flow rate or more or less ballast.
“It is, in fact, a cost cap relief mechanism, where a PU manufacturer meeting ADUO criteria during a review period is given an opportunity to develop its engine through a downward adjustment.”
Public Response
The system has caused significant controversy amongst teams and fans. Critics argue that, by allowing Mercedes to make further upgrades, they are causing even further deficits in overall speed.
Red Bull has undoubtedly lost out due to these findings, as Red Bull team principal, Laurent Mekies, declined to comment on it after the Monaco GP.
Honda’s problems
What was less surprising to the paddock was that Honda was indeed found to have the worst engine on the grid. However, even they were not completely satisfied with the results of the system. To the disappointment of Aston Martin, Honda was not found to have qualified for the full upgrade assistance, due to their engine being less than 10% deficient to Red Bulls.
This has resulted in an estimated $3million loss for the team in wind tunnel time and cost cap leniency. Aston Martin will now hope that Honda can fix their power unit struggles with only $8million in additional funds compared to the $11million estimated.
With the bulk of the European season swiftly approaching, it appears that many Aston Martin fans will have to hold their breath a while longer before success reaches them again.
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