By: Today, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile issued an official document detailing which manufacturers have earned the distinction, if that is what it can be called, of serving as the benchmark for internal-combustion-engine power assessments, and the actual gaps to the other competitors.
Red Bull has the most powerful ICE
Red Bull was awarded the recognition for the most powerful ICE, at least according to the analysis from the first period. The team made its debut this year with its new powertrains division. It is an award the team perhaps not only did not expect, but may not even have wanted to win. With Mercedes, having fallen within a gap of between 2 and 4%, able to homologate two units in 2026 and two in 2027, while all the other manufacturers — Ferrari, Audi and Honda — can use three different units in 2026 and three in 2027, it is clear that Red Bull could quickly drop down the order from its position as the benchmark.
Only Red Bull has an interest in the next analysis
The rules are clear. Those who received bonuses in a given period cannot receive further ones, so the measurements carried out in the second period were solely intended to assess the position of Red Bull relative to its rivals. The FIA found no gaps that would place the Milton Keynes team in one of the previous categories. This is why the investigations carried out during the second period did not identify a need to grant additional homologations to manufacturers. Red Bull remains empty-handed.
The first period concluded at the Canadian Grand Prix, while the second ended at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Austrians are now left only hoping for the findings from the third period. Those assessments will be carried out between the recently concluded Dutch Grand Prix and the Mexico City Grand Prix.
That will be their final opportunity to hope for bonuses that they could at least use in 2027. If things continue this way, that is the year in which they will start on level terms with Cadillac, a new engine manufacturer that will not be entitled to additional homologations, at least until the report covering the first period of 2027 is issued.
