LONDON : Honda could receive up to $19 million in additional development allowance for its struggling 2026 Formula One engine programme after next week’s Canadian Grand Prix under new FIA regulations aimed at helping underperforming manufacturers.
The governing FIA published details on Wednesday explaining how its Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system would operate following the first engine performance review period of the season.
The ADUO rules allow manufacturers that are at least two percent behind the leading engine supplier to spend extra money on development within Formula One’s cost cap structure.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, described the system as a cost-cap relief mechanism rather than a competitive advantage.
“It’s not a magic bullet or like the FIA is handing out brownie points to somebody who’s behind,” Tombazis said.
“It simply provides them with leeway to develop their power unit within the framework laid out by the technical regulations.”
Formula One entered a new engine era this season, with Honda becoming the exclusive engine supplier for Aston Martin after replacing Mercedes.
However, Honda’s package has struggled badly compared to rival manufacturers, with Aston Martin suffering reliability issues and severe vibration problems during the opening races.
Under the regulations, manufacturers trailing by 2-4% can receive up to $3 million in extra allowance, rising progressively to $11 million for those more than 10% behind.
For 2026 only, teams with deficits above 10% can also access an additional $8 million from future cost-cap periods, potentially bringing the total relief to $19 million.
The FIA evaluates engine performance across three phases of the season to determine eligibility for ADUO assistance.
Following the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia earlier this year, the review periods have been revised, with the second phase now covering races from Monaco to Hungary and the third spanning the Netherlands to Mexico.
Mercedes, which has powered the winners of all four grands prix so far this season, is widely regarded as having the benchmark engine.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, warned last month against any manipulation of the system and said the intention should be to help weaker manufacturers close the gap rather than overtake rivals.
“As it seems for me, there’s one engine manufacturer that has a problem and we need to help,” Wolff said.
“I would be very surprised, actually, and disappointed if ADUO decisions that were done would come up with any interferences into the competitive pecking order.”
Aston Martin only managed to complete a full race distance with both cars for the first time this season at the Miami Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso finished 15th and Lance Stroll came home 17th.
