F1 Today | Red Bull-Ford weighing up drastic engine decision, ADUO schedule set to be brought forward
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
22:01, 21 Apr
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Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
From Red Bull and Ford leaning towards a key decision over their first-ever power unit, with the ADUO upgrades set to be introduced earlier than planned, here are the main stories from today, April 21.
Red Bull and Ford leaning toward drastic decision about their first F1 engine
Red Bull and engine partner Ford are seriously considering not implementing any performance upgrades to the power unit, even if permitted under ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), GPblog understands.
Under ADUO rules, if a manufacturer is over two percent behind the benchmark engine on the grid - in this case Mercedes - at a certain point in the season, they are permitted to implement upgrades.
However, regardless of whether Red Bull Ford are two percent behind Mercedes' performance, there is a good chance that they will still decide not introduce an improved power unit in the short term.
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In Milton Keynes, there is a sense that the engine is not currently the biggest shortcoming - GPblog have reported that the Austrian outfit would much rather first focus on improving the chassis of their RB22.
This does not rule out Red Bull and Ford implementing an upgrade at some point during the season, provided, of course, that they can make use of ADUO, and fall in that two percent zone behind the Silver Arrows.
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ADUO ahead of schedule for F1 engines: FIA and F1 teams to reach decision
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The point at which ADUO upgrades may be introduced in the F1 2026 season could also change.
Initially planned to take place after Round Six of the 2026 campaign at the Monaco GP (following cancellation of the April races), GPblog understands that a decision to bring ADUO forward after the round prior, at the Canadian GP, is set to be made.
It was expected that a decision would be announced during Monday’s meeting between the F1 team bosses and the FIA.
However, the motorsport federation’s statement did not mention ADUO - GPblog report that final clarity on the further implementation of ADUO will follow next week.
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Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has expressed hope that the ADUO "will be an opportunity for us to close the gap,” but Mercedes' team principal Toto Wolff has warned the FIA against allowing teams to "leapfrog" rather than just "catch up" to the benchmark.
Wolff said to media, including GPblog: "The principle of the ADUO was to allow teams that were on the back foot in terms of the power unit to catch up, but not to leapfrog."
He added: "It needs to be clear that gamesmanship hasn't got any place here, but it needs to be with the right spirit here that the FIA acts upon an ADUO."
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