Six months of development
“They were already expecting a new engine, so they must have started developing it six months ago…“, Toto Wolff stated confidently in the Austria paddock, commenting on Ferrari’s updated power unit.
The Austrian manager highlighted the responsiveness of Maranello in bringing a new engine to the track quite quickly, after the ADUO allocation – still not official. Responsiveness that also characterized Audi, which had already updated its power unit in Barcelona.
In short, some engine manufacturers had been working on engine developments for some time, perhaps a little too early…
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Predicting the ADUO: foresight or strategy?
In this context, it is reasonable to think that Ferrari and Audi integrated the ADUO into their seasonal strategy, deciding at the table to be included in one of the allocation bands. Voluntarily starting behind, then making double progress during the championship. And working in advance to be ready, very ready as soon as they were guaranteed the possibility of an update.
Let us remember that the ADUO acts on three fronts: additional money for development, extra hours on the bench, and new engine homologation (complete, concerning both the thermal and electric side).
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A disadvantage that can become an advantage. An interpretation dear to Wolff, who at the start of the season had warned: “The ADUO is a lifeline for those struggling, not an elevator to snatch the top“.
Is planning to take the ADUO in advance in line with the spirit of the regulation? The FIA had thought of a system to help those in difficulty and probably did not expect that there could be teams that considered it convenient to start at a handicap to have more room to recover.
But gray areas are always around the corner and probably not by chance in the political battle for the 60:40 engines from 2027 or 2028, Ferrari was at the forefront to block free updates to the power unit for the reference engine manufacturers.
In short, there is always a dark side to this ADUO, from every angle you look at it…
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