The development of engines will be the dominant theme in the coming months. The point of reference is Mercedes, strong with a power unit whose qualities go beyond the simple increase of the compression ratio, a solution favored by the ambiguities of the regulations. Ferrari hopes in the ADUO to recover, whose allocation will not be based simply on absolute power. Concessions will also be of great importance with a view to 2027, when modifications to power units will debut, not without complications, as explored by Federico Albano and Carlo Platella in the new episode of Engineers on Thursday.
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The chase for Mercedes
Most likely, the Brixworth engines will be the benchmark for the ADUO. The Mercedes power unit is immediately associated with the solution related to the compression ratio, whose benefits will hardly be eroded by the new hot measurement test. Beyond this, however, the star brand has also done an excellent job interpreting the new regulations, which have changed combustion in the cylinders quite a bit, despite the architecture being the same as in past seasons.
The competition hopes in the ADUO, the mechanism that, in addition to guaranteeing the homologation of extra updates, will ensure more hours for bench tests and budget cap reliefs. The FIA has explained that the ranking will not be based solely on absolute power, but at the same time that the mathematical formula will not take into account design choices that deliberately sacrifice thermal engine performance. Ferrari is waiting to find out which class it will fall into, aware of a technical delay that is nevertheless hardly attributable to biofuel. Meanwhile, in Miami Leclerc adopted an interesting technique to manage the restart after the Safety Car, decidedly different from the one Mercedes had implemented in Suzuka.
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The interplay with 2027
The allocation of the ADUO will be doubly important, as the opportunities for extra development will help better prepare for the power unit changes for next year. The new split between thermal and electric power will improve the situation but will introduce a whole series of complications. The increase in fuel flow will require larger tanks or shorter races, which would flatten strategies to a single stop, while, without interventions, the hybrid part risks becoming a very costly ballast. Questions currently outweigh answers, forcing the ADUO verdict to be left to future generations.
