Charles Leclerc is hoping Ferrari can save the ADUO-2 power unit damaged in his Monza accident and avoid an engine penalty as the team prepares for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Checks are continuing at Maranello after Charles Leclerc reverted to the older ADUO-1 specification in Madrid as a precaution.
The decision could prove particularly important in Azerbaijan. Ferrari intends to use ADUO-2 in Baku, where top speed will carry greater significance, but it remains unclear whether Charles Leclerc can return to the unit used at Monza or whether Ferrari will need to introduce another upgraded engine and consequently take a penalty.
Charles Leclerc’s Monza problems could continue in Baku
Ferrari experienced just about everything that could go wrong at Monza, with Charles Leclerc enduring the worst of the team’s difficulties. Beyond the retirement and the controversies surrounding the weekend, the Italian Grand Prix could yet have another frustrating consequence for both the Monegasque driver and Ferrari.
The upgraded power unit featuring ADUO-2 was damaged in Charles Leclerc’s impact at the Alboreto corner on the second lap of the Grand Prix. Ferrari has continued examining the engine at Maranello, while Charles Leclerc raced with ADUO-1 in Madrid as a precaution.
The second engine upgrade will, however, be needed in Baku, a circuit where outright speed will play a more important role. Ferrari already faces a significant energy-management challenge in Azerbaijan, with the FIA’s designated 2026 straight-mode sections adding another strategic dimension to the weekend. The implications for the SF-26 are examined in our analysis of Ferrari’s Baku energy test.
Charles Leclerc admits a Ferrari engine penalty is possible
Charles Leclerc is therefore expected to race with ADUO-2 in Azerbaijan. The remaining question is whether that will be the engine previously used at Monza or whether Ferrari will have to introduce another upgraded power unit, triggering a penalty in Baku.
The Ferrari driver did not commit to either scenario, but, like team principal Frederic Vasseur, acknowledged that the possibility of a penalty is realistic.
“For now, as far as I know, they are still checking the engine, so we’ll see. I don’t know yet, but if we can save it, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, we will probably have to take a penalty at some point,” Charles Leclerc said.
The outcome of Ferrari’s inspections will therefore determine whether the Monza accident has consequences extending beyond the Italian Grand Prix itself. With Baku placing particular emphasis on acceleration and maximum speed, the availability of the latest specification could be especially valuable. Recorded straight-line performance across the field can also be explored through the F1 Top Speed Comparison.
Leclerc identifies qualifying as Ferrari’s key weakness
Regardless of which power unit Ferrari ultimately installs in Baku, Charles Leclerc is clear about the area in which the SF-26 needs to improve most. He believes Ferrari’s race performance is competitive, but the team is still struggling to extract enough from the car over a qualifying lap.
“The car is competitive in the race, we just need to try to understand how to unlock more performance in qualifying. In my opinion, performance management is even more difficult on Saturday than it is on Sunday, and that is why we don’t have any immediate solutions. But anything we can do to try to gain a little performance on Saturday would be very useful for our race result,” Charles Leclerc explained.
The issue has become increasingly important because starting position can shape Ferrari’s opportunities on Sunday even when the SF-26 demonstrates stronger race pace. The team’s wider concerns heading into Azerbaijan are also reflected in the questions surrounding Ferrari’s SF-26 development ahead of Baku.
Why ADUO-2 could matter for Ferrari in Azerbaijan
Having ADUO-2 available in Baku would allow Ferrari to move closer to Mercedes in terms of performance. The effectiveness of the latest evolution’s power delivery was evident even in Madrid, despite the particularly twisty nature of the circuit.
There, Lewis Hamilton was gaining approximately two tenths compared with Charles Leclerc, highlighting the potential benefit of the newer specification. That comparison makes Ferrari’s ongoing checks on Charles Leclerc’s damaged Monza engine particularly significant before a Baku weekend where power delivery and straight-line performance are expected to matter even more.
Ferrari’s challenge will therefore be twofold: establish whether Charles Leclerc’s existing ADUO-2 can be recovered without requiring a fresh unit and continue searching for the qualifying performance the Monegasque believes is currently limiting the SF-26. The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule and Baku start times provide the full weekend timetable as Ferrari prepares for its next opportunity.
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