Toto Wolff was right all along about ADUO as Martin Brundle admits ‘I don’t like’ F1 engine decision

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Martin Brundle has shared his thoughts on the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) initiative, echoing Toto Wolff’s past comments regarding the new-for-2026 system.

The FIA finally released the first batch of their findings from the first quarter of the season, and the verdict left many within the F1 paddock stunned.

What are your thoughts on Mercedes being granted an engine upgrade through ADUO despite their 2026 dominance?

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Despite running away with both championships, Mercedes were deemed to have built the second-best engine out of the five manufacturers on the grid, with Red Bull standing tall as the grid’s benchmark.

With the Silver Arrows now allowed to make one free upgrade to their 2026 power unit, Red Bull are looking to challenge the decision and force the FIA to take into account the battery components, and not just the Internal Combustion Engine.

• READ MORE: What is ADUO? New F1 engine rule explained as FIA issue verdict on Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari

Martin Brundle admits he does not like the FIA’s ADUO initiative

Prior to the FIA’s ruling that the Brackley-based outfit would receive ADUO, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff made his feelings clear on the initiative after the W17 emerged as the strongest challenger on the grid.

Isack Hadjar blames Red Bull’s chassis for their poor start to 2026 – Are you surprised that their engine has not been the biggest issue?

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“It seems, for me, there’s one engine manufacturer that has a problem, and we need to help,” he said via The Race in April. “But then all the others are pretty much in the same ballpark.

“So I would be very surprised, actually, to see, and disappointed, if ADUO decisions come up with any interferences into the competitive pecking order as it stands at the moment.

“The principle of the ADUO was to allow teams that were on the back foot to catch up – but not to leapfrog.”

During Sky Sports F1’s coverage of FP1 at the Barcelona Grand Prix, F1 pundit Martin Brundle echoed the Austrian executive’s sentiments as he issued his ‘honest’ verdict on ADUO.

After being asked whether Mercedes need it or not, the 67-year-old replied (13:47 12/06), “They don’t, and I don’t like the whole thing, to be honest. Formula 1 is about excellence, not the lowest common denominator.

• READ MORE: Mercedes accused of turning down their engine to receive ADUO help from the FIA

“Of course, you’ve got to give a leg up to Honda, or somebody else who is really struggling, maybe Audi could do with it as well. But at the end of the day, there are opportunities to improve your power units going along, and I just think it should just be about excellence.”

Interestingly, Red Bull chief Laurent Mekies also agreed with Wolff at the time of his comments. It remains to be seen whether the Frenchman’s sentiments have changed following the publication of the FIA’s findings.