Toto Wolff signals approval for potential ADUO change amid Fernando Alonso talks

Toto Wolff has signalled his approval for changes to F1's ADUO rules after FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem pledged to help Honda and Fernando Alonso. 

Given Honda's struggles in the first-year of the new generation of power units, Alonso is currently weighing up whether to return to Aston Martin for 2027, and has launched stinging criticisms of the state of F1 as he does so. 

As he does, FIA president Ben Sulayem has proposed aiding Honda with further rules concessions to bring it into line with the other power unit manufacturers, believing it is "not acceptable" for Alonso to be in the current competitive plight he is. 

This would likely be done through the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities mechanism, which permits those power units down on performance to the benchmark in terms of ICE power, which is currently Red Bull, extra upgrades.

Wolff, who cautioned early in the season that ADUO could be used to allow manufacturers to "leapfrog" others who have done a better job, has now signalled he'd be open to the system being used to aid Honda further.

“I think the ADUO in that case was designed as a catch-up mechanism," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365. 

"And that formula was unlocked for Honda, and they need more.

"I think the conversation that the president had with Alonso is fair enough.

"You know, we want to have all of these top constructors in the sport. We want them to be competitive and successful.

"Rules are built to do the best for the sport, and sometimes maybe there needs an adjustment, so a fair enough conversation."

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