Ferrari, Mercedes Suspected of Sandbagging For Development Advantage
TL;DR
Ferrari and Mercedes are suspected of sandbagging to maintain a development advantage in F1. Both teams are reportedly hiding their true performance to qualify for Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO).
Key points
- Ferrari and Mercedes are leading teams in F1.
- Both teams are suspected of hiding their true performance.
- The strategy may help them qualify for ADUO.
- ADUO allows for mid-season engine upgrades.
- Insider reports suggest intentional performance concealment.
Ferrari and Mercedes have been the two best power units in the bunch, and their manufacturer teams are benefiting from their early performance.
Ferrari and Mercedes have been the two most consistent teams to start the season, and while the rest of the field is closing the gap ever more closely, an F1 insider believes both teams are hiding their true performance.
In F1, the Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities, known as ADUO, give struggling power unit manufacturers the ability to upgrade their engine as the season goes along, along with additional development time.
Per Mark Hughes of Motorsport Magazine, Ferrari is hoping to stay below a certain threshold to benefit from AUDO’s help, while Mercedes is doing something similar.
May 2, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (left), Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli (center) and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (16) pose for a photo after finishing the qualifying session for the F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
AUDO is dished out after the Canadian Grand Prix, when engine performance early on is measured. There is additional money opened up, extra time in the simulator, and the ability to bring engine upgrades.
AUDO’s 2027 impact
Additional help for a power unit could be used in the 2027 season, when there is a change coming to the cars. The power split will be adjusted from 50/50 to 60/40, with slightly more conventional energy.
According to Hughes, while Ferrari and Mercedes could use their time for this season, they could end up preparing for 2027.
“It will impact upon all aspects of the engine and car specification: the optimum combustion chamber shape, valve angles, camshaft design, cooling, fuel consumption, optimum electrical energy harvesting and deployment, turbo behavior and sizing, even aerodynamics (because of the cooling and fuel consumption implications),” Hughes wrote.
“Optimizing around all those interacting variables is a long and expensive job, one not foreseen or budgeted for. Suddenly, any manufacturer which has been given ADUO privileges after Montreal, two weeks from now – extra budget, extra simulation time – will be given a bigger boost than anticipated.”
Even if upgrades are made to the current engines, it will be a while before the teams see the benefits, but after the upcoming race in Canada, both teams will have no reason left to hide engine performance.
Q&A
Why are Ferrari and Mercedes suspected of sandbagging in F1?
Ferrari and Mercedes are suspected of sandbagging to keep their performance below a certain threshold, allowing them to qualify for Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO).
What are Additional Development Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) in F1?
ADUO allows struggling power unit manufacturers to upgrade their engines during the season, providing additional development time to improve performance.
How does sandbagging affect the competition in Formula 1?
Sandbagging can create an uneven playing field, as it allows teams like Ferrari and Mercedes to strategically hide their true capabilities, potentially impacting the performance of other teams.
