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The Formula 1 paddock is currently consumed by a massive political war over the ADUO engine framework. With Mercedesactively defending the current regulations to keep Red Bull frozen, and Ferrari intentionally manipulating their internal combustion engine (ICE) metrics to gain free upgrades, the system is fundamentally broken.
Now, Mattia Binotto has officially entered the chat.
As the CEO and Team Principal of the Audi F1 project, Binotto knows firsthand how brutal the 2026 engine regulations are. Audi is currently fighting a massive power deficit as they build their hybrid system from scratch. But rather than quietly accepting the FIA’s current ADUO handouts, Binotto is actively proposing a radical regulatory overhaul that would completely destroy the loopholes being exploited by the front-runners.
As detailed in a recent report from RN365, Binotto explicitly laid out a much fairer alternative to the current ICE-only measurement system. Instead of relying on isolated engine dyno metrics that teams like Ferrari can easily manipulate, the Audi boss wants to tie engine development directly to a team’s actual on-track success.
“It would be like what already exists for the chassis tunnel hours. It should be based on the classification”
Mattia Binotto
Binotto is referencing the Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR), which assigns wind tunnel and CFD time on a sliding scale based on the Constructors’ Championship standings. The worse a team performs, the more aerodynamic development time they receive. Binotto argues that the ADUO system should operate on the exact same sliding scale.
“That way, the best teams wouldn’t have an advantage”
If the FIA were to adopt Binotto’s proposed framework, it would trigger a massive shift in the paddock’s power dynamics.
“You’re assigned tunnel hours and ADUO aids based on how good or bad you are overall; it’s balanced”
Currently, the ADUO system operates in a vacuum. Because it only measures pure engine power, a team can possess the fastest overall car on the grid—like Mercedes currently does—and still avoid being labeled the “benchmark” engine, thereby dodging a development freeze.
Under Binotto’s “balanced” proposal, the entire car’s performance would be taken into account. Mercedes, sitting at the top of the standings with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, would immediately be stripped of their engine development lifelines. Conversely, Red Bull—who are currently locked out of upgrades despite trailing Mercedes—would receive the help they desperately need based on their actual championship classification.
Binotto’s pitch is logical, fair, and designed to actually achieve the grid convergence the FIA originally promised. And for exactly those reasons, Mercedes and Ferrari will fight it to the bitter end.
Continue reading...
Now, Mattia Binotto has officially entered the chat.
As the CEO and Team Principal of the Audi F1 project, Binotto knows firsthand how brutal the 2026 engine regulations are. Audi is currently fighting a massive power deficit as they build their hybrid system from scratch. But rather than quietly accepting the FIA’s current ADUO handouts, Binotto is actively proposing a radical regulatory overhaul that would completely destroy the loopholes being exploited by the front-runners.
Binotto’s Classification Proposal
As detailed in a recent report from RN365, Binotto explicitly laid out a much fairer alternative to the current ICE-only measurement system. Instead of relying on isolated engine dyno metrics that teams like Ferrari can easily manipulate, the Audi boss wants to tie engine development directly to a team’s actual on-track success.
“It would be like what already exists for the chassis tunnel hours. It should be based on the classification”
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Mattia Binotto
Binotto is referencing the Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR), which assigns wind tunnel and CFD time on a sliding scale based on the Constructors’ Championship standings. The worse a team performs, the more aerodynamic development time they receive. Binotto argues that the ADUO system should operate on the exact same sliding scale.
“That way, the best teams wouldn’t have an advantage”
A Direct Threat to Mercedes
If the FIA were to adopt Binotto’s proposed framework, it would trigger a massive shift in the paddock’s power dynamics.
“You’re assigned tunnel hours and ADUO aids based on how good or bad you are overall; it’s balanced”
Currently, the ADUO system operates in a vacuum. Because it only measures pure engine power, a team can possess the fastest overall car on the grid—like Mercedes currently does—and still avoid being labeled the “benchmark” engine, thereby dodging a development freeze.
Under Binotto’s “balanced” proposal, the entire car’s performance would be taken into account. Mercedes, sitting at the top of the standings with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, would immediately be stripped of their engine development lifelines. Conversely, Red Bull—who are currently locked out of upgrades despite trailing Mercedes—would receive the help they desperately need based on their actual championship classification.
Binotto’s pitch is logical, fair, and designed to actually achieve the grid convergence the FIA originally promised. And for exactly those reasons, Mercedes and Ferrari will fight it to the bitter end.
Continue reading...
