Following the FIA’s announcement regarding the ADUO values, Audi brought an updated power unit to the track as early as the Formula 1 weekend in Barcelona
Audi has taken the lead and surprised even industry insiders. The FIA shared the results of the ADUO evaluations with the Formula 1 teams at the end of the first measurement period (i.e., from the Australian Grand Prix to the Canadian Grand Prix) during the Monaco weekend.
No one had expected that, among the engine manufacturers benefiting from ADUO, any would already be ready to deploy an updated version of their power unit as early as the following Formula 1 weekend in Barcelona.
For this reason, the mandatory FIA announcement on Friday—which lists the cars with new engine components—went virtually unnoticed.
In addition to Max Verstappen—who had to change his power unit after a failure on the Monaco starting grid—the Audis driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto also took to the track with a new internal combustion engine and a new turbocharger.
Almost two weeks later, the Italian edition of Motorsport.com learned that the Audi power units used in Barcelona featured some—albeit not fundamental—changes aimed primarily at improving drivability.
This marks the first instance ever in which an updated power unit was deployed, taking advantage of the possibilities offered by the new ADUO regulations.
The speed with which Audi responded to the FIA’s notification received in Monte Carlo surprised industry experts and confirms that collaboration between Ingolstadt and Hinwil had already been underway for some time.
The engines were, in fact, already complete and were merely awaiting approval from the FIA before being transported directly to the Barcelona paddock.
The modification seen in Spain represents only the first step in a development program that is set to continue throughout the season, as Audi still has further updates for the power unit.
The doubts expressed by Red Bull Powertrains—described as the engine manufacturer with the most powerful internal combustion engine—prompted the FIA to review the ADUO evaluation process.
However, the standings released by the FIA have not been suspended and remain valid until further notice, subject to any new announcements.