The cancellation of the two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could delay the ADUO, forcing teams to recalibrate timelines and strategies
Formula 1 is preparing to officially announce the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, a decision driven by the situation in the Middle East and one that will not include rescheduling. Beyond the purely logistical and financial aspects, the move will have consequences for the championship — particularly for power‑unit development and the new ADUO system, designed to regulate engine updates throughout the season.
Assessments currently underway by the FIA
The Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system allows manufacturers to introduce changes to their power units at four predetermined moments: after races 6, 12, 18 and 24. With a calendar originally built around 24 Grands Prix, the first window was scheduled right after the Miami race on May 3, giving teams on the back foot a chance to close the gap to the leaders.
The cancellation of the first two Grands Prix could push this window back to after the Monaco Grand Prix, scheduled for June 7, slowing down the teams that are most aggressive on the engine‑development front.
According to The Race, the FIA is considering regulatory measures to prevent delays to the ADUO while preserving the principle of dividing the season into equal segments. The solutions under review include redefining the upgrade windows or introducing fixed dates in the regulations, independent of the number of races held.
The official decision is expected in the coming weeks, but the objective remains clear: allowing teams to take advantage of the first upgrade window without being penalised by the cancelled Grands Prix, keeping Miami as the reference point for the start of power‑unit updates.
