Audi hoping for long-term engine gains from ADUO

Audi will benefit significantly from having power unit development opportunities, but is focused on a big development, according to the team’s CEO Mattia Binotto.

The FIA has been analyzing internal combustion engine (ICE) performance in order to provide additional development and upgrade opportunities (ADUO) to those deemed to be clearly adrift of the benchmark engine. With Red Bull deemed to have the strongest ICE, Audi is one of three manufacturers – also alongside Ferrari and Honda – to receive the maximum two extra upgrades this season, with a further two in 2027.

“For Audi it will be a significant benefit,” Binotto said. “I think it's what we were expecting. Since the very start of the season, we knew that most of our gap to the top teams was on the power unit side. Not a surprise to us. Hard work will be required. We've got plans, but it will be beneficial, but not in the short term.

“Often maybe people may believe that once you've got ADUO, maybe the race after you may introduce 10 kilowatts. That's not what will happen. In our case, we are looking for a big development, but more on the medium and long term. We are focusing our efforts more on the medium and the long term again, and the ADUO will be beneficial in that respect.

“So ADUO means more budget cap, means more dyno hours, more freedom on development. But again, not everything sometimes is in the short term. Our journey is a long journey. We have set an objective by 2030. So as well, when it comes to car development, power unit development, especially the power units, it takes time to develop, longer than maybe some chassis parts. Again, our plans are set. We will not see immediate benefits from the ADUO, but then it will be certainly beneficial for us.”

ADUO allows developments across the full range of power unit components, but Binotto says the primary area of focus will be on ICE performance given the deficit that has been identified.

“First, the ADUO is made on assessment of engine power, pure engine power, and the delta which is measured is really on the engine itself,” he said. “So, it’s not the full power unit, it’s not related to energy management, efficiency of the electrical system – it’s pure engine power.

“So, if you have been assessed that you are down in engine power, I think the first where you have to be concentrated and focused is really on engine power. And that’s certainly where we stand at the moment ourselves as Audi. And that’s down to the efficiency of your combustion chamber.

“There isn’t much you can gain in there, but that’s not obviously the overall performance of a power unit. There are certainly efficiencies in the batteries, in the inverters, in the turbo dimensioning for what can be drivability on track and compromises. So when developing a power unit there are a lot of metrics, but certainly when it comes to ADUO, I think that’s assessing the gap on pure engine power, and that’s, I think, where at least we are focusing the most.”