United States Grand Prix · News
Mercedes delays ADUO engine upgrade beyond Austin
Mercedes has postponed its ADUO power-unit upgrade, with Brazil now the earliest likely debut after Austin and Mexico proved too soon.
Mercedes will not introduce its ADUO power-unit upgrade at the United States Grand Prix, after the revised engine failed to be ready for its planned Austin debut. The team is also not expected to have it available for next weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, making the Brazilian Grand Prix the earliest likely opportunity.
Brazil is now the earliest likely debut
The upgrade became available after Mercedes was assessed as more than 2% behind Red Bull’s benchmark 2026 power unit under Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system. The team had initially pencilled in Austin for its first use, but has pushed that plan back because the engine is not ready.
Mercedes is not expected to rush the change. It wants to be satisfied that the revised unit represents a genuine step forward before putting it into action. The Brazilian Grand Prix, which concludes the latest triple-header, is now the earliest likely arrival point.
That timing matters for George Russell, who will face another grid penalty whenever he takes the ADUO engine. An engine failure at Sepang at the start of the month already left him with a penalty in Singapore. Russell’s earlier setback was covered in our look at his Singapore recovery prospects.
Mercedes brings its chassis upgrade to both cars
While the power-unit change is delayed, Mercedes will run the major chassis upgrade it debuted at Sepang on both cars in Austin. The team split its car specifications in Singapore, an experiment that provided useful information. Subsequent debriefs have offered further guidance on how to get the most from the package.
Both drivers are set to have the upgraded car from first practice. The Austin weekend’s focus on Mercedes’ updates also features in our coverage of the team’s recovery mission.
Mercedes is all but certain to win both 2026 championships, according to the source report, but late-season development still carries weight beyond this campaign. Any progress with the ADUO engine could inform the team’s 2027 effort, even if the unit runs for only two or three weekends this year. That longer-term value helps explain why Mercedes is prepared to wait until it believes the upgrade is ready.