Ferrari could face an important Power Unit decision before the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc’s heavy crash at Monza raised concerns over the condition of his fresh ADUO 2 engine. The SF-26 suffered a violent impact at the Parabolica during the Italian Grand Prix, and one detail that emerged afterwards has created questions over whether the updated unit can still be used in Madrid.
The possibility of Power Unit damage would represent another setback for Ferrari following a painful home race. Charles Leclerc’s accident came after a driving error, something that cannot be ignored, but the amount of personal abuse directed at the Monegasque in the aftermath has also been difficult to overlook. Too often, support for drivers appears strongest when everything is going well, while difficult moments quickly produce a very different reaction.
Beyond that controversy, however, Ferrari now has more practical concerns. The damage sustained by the SF-26 in the crash could also have consequences for the Power Unit, particularly given that Charles Leclerc was using Ferrari’s newly introduced specification. The ADUO 2 development introduced at Monza was designed to extract more performance and efficiency from the Ferrari package, making the condition of that unit especially important ahead of Madrid.
Why Charles Leclerc’s ADUO 2 engine is under scrutiny
Federico Albano was among the first to highlight an unusual detail following the accident, writing on X: “Leclerc’s engine remained running for quite a while after the impact. We’ll see whether it has to be thrown away.”
The detail can also be seen in the telemetry. When a Power Unit continues running without the car moving normally after an accident, there can be a risk of significant damage, particularly in demanding conditions and with the high temperatures experienced at Monza. In the worst-case scenario, components could suffer damage severe enough to make the unit unusable.
Ferrari’s engineers at Maranello will therefore be examining the Power Unit closely to understand exactly what happened and determine whether it can safely remain in Charles Leclerc’s pool. That assessment is particularly significant because this was not an older engine approaching the end of its mileage, but the fresh specification incorporating Ferrari’s latest ADUO 2 improvements.
The updated Ferrari Power Unit had already attracted considerable attention during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, with the changes going beyond a simple search for additional horsepower. The broader technical reasoning behind the package can be explored in our Ferrari SF-26 Power Unit analysis.
Ferrari could face a difficult engine choice for Madrid
If Charles Leclerc’s ADUO 2 Power Unit proves unusable, Ferrari would potentially have more than one route available heading into the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
One possibility would be to return to an older engine specification that does not benefit from the advantages of the updated ADUO package. On Madrid’s new circuit, however, giving up those performance gains could represent a significant disadvantage.
The alternative would be to install another fresh ADUO 2 specification. Depending on Charles Leclerc’s allocation and the components required, that scenario could result in a grid penalty. Ferrari will therefore have to establish the true extent of any damage before deciding which path offers the best compromise for the next race.
Ferrari’s priority remains Charles Leclerc’s condition
For all the concern surrounding the engine, the most important news is that Charles Leclerc was able to return home after receiving medical clearance following an accident involving around 50G of deceleration. The scale of the impact itself can be seen in the data from Charles Leclerc’s Monza crash.
Ferrari will analyse the SF-26 and its Power Unit in detail over the coming days before determining whether the ADUO 2 engine can be used again. Until those inspections are complete, the possibility of needing a replacement unit remains only a scenario rather than a confirmed outcome.
For now, the key positive is that Charles Leclerc is well after such a violent accident. The rest will depend on what Ferrari’s engineers discover in Maranello as preparations begin for Madrid.
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