While attention at Ferrari is currently focused on the Monza debut of the 067/6 V6 with ADUO-2, an upgrade expected to deliver around 15 additional horsepower, major work is already under way at Maranello on the 2027 Formula 1 project. Known internally as Project 679, Ferrari’s next car is set to retain the aggressive philosophy behind the SF-26 while introducing important changes to the power unit, turbocharger, cooling system and rear-end packaging.
The immediate priority remains the Italian Grand Prix, where Ferrari wants to send a clear signal with its latest power unit development. However, the lessons learned from the SF-26 are already shaping a 2027 concept that could feature lower intake-air temperatures, a significantly larger turbo and an even more extreme aerodynamic approach around the cooling package.
Ferrari’s ADUO-2 engine upgrade takes centre stage at Monza
Ferrari’s attention is first centred on the debut of the ADUO-2 power unit at Monza. The 067/6 was conceived around several bold design choices intended to benefit the chassis and aerodynamics, but those decisions came with a clear disadvantage in terms of maximum power.
The Ferrari unit has been estimated to be around 30 horsepower behind the benchmark power units in the paddock, namely Red Bull-Ford and Mercedes. There are, however, important considerations to make when assessing the methods used to measure Formula 1 power unit performance. The FIA’s reference has been the Red Bull-Ford six-cylinder engine developed at Milton Keynes, which is undoubtedly very competitive but has yet to win a Grand Prix, while the Mercedes engine produced at Brixworth has so far accumulated 11 victories, nine with Mercedes and two with McLaren.
The Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system has allowed Ferrari to approve two development steps. The first arrived at the Austrian Grand Prix but produced only a very limited and relatively insignificant performance improvement. At Monza, however, the combined effect of the two interventions should allow Ferrari to halve its deficit to Mercedes.
The estimated gain is around 15 horsepower, accompanied by a revised torque curve intended to make better use of the limited electrical energy available and a different approach to power delivery. Ferrari has also been preparing its power unit rotation around the Monza upgrade as the championship moves into its decisive phase.
Ferrari still does not consider itself favourite at Monza
Despite the upgrade, Ferrari does not see itself as the favourite at the Temple of Speed. Nevertheless, as was the case in Barcelona and Silverstone, the Scuderia believes it can put Mercedes under pressure and extract the maximum from its home Grand Prix.
The objective is to keep alive Ferrari’s hopes of at least fighting for the Constructors’ Championship. In the Drivers’ standings, meanwhile, the title increasingly appears to be Kimi Antonelli’s to lose. The young Italian is enjoying an outstanding season despite several reliability problems, without which his points total would have been considerably greater. Kimi Antonelli currently holds a 59-point advantage over both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, with the latest championship situation available in the Formula 1 driver standings.
Ferrari 2027 engine plan keeps the aggressive SF-26 philosophy
Although the spotlight is firmly on the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Gestione Sportiva is also working intensively on next season. Several departments are already involved in Project 679, with chassis technical director Loïc Serra and power unit technical director Enrico Gualtieri establishing the key principles for Ferrari’s 2027 Formula 1 car.
The experience gained with the SF-26 this season appears to have established a clear direction. Ferrari intends to retain an aggressive approach not only in its aerodynamic choices but also in the design of the power unit. The new engine is therefore not expected to abandon the philosophy introduced with the 067/6.
There are two main reasons. Firstly, Ferrari would not have sufficient time for a complete conceptual reversal. Secondly, the so-called “hot engine” philosophy itself is not expected to be discarded. Instead, the intention is to refine the concept and recover engine performance without sacrificing the packaging benefits that Ferrari has pursued with the SF-26.
Lower intake temperature could unlock more power for Ferrari
One of the most significant changes under consideration concerns the temperature of the intake air. Ferrari could give up several degrees compared with the very aggressive values reached this season, with the SF-26 operating at around 115 degrees compared with approximately 70 degrees for its rivals.
Even with that reduction, Ferrari could still afford to remove some heat-exchange capacity from the car. At several races this season, part of the cooling system has actually been restricted because the installation proved oversized for the conditions.
That leaves Ferrari with significant scope to push the aerodynamic concept even further while simultaneously recovering performance from the engine. It is a continuation of the packaging philosophy that has defined much of Ferrari’s recent development work, which can be followed through the site’s Ferrari technical analysis coverage.
Ferrari set to follow Red Bull and Mercedes with a larger turbo
The Scuderia is also expected to revise its forced-induction system by moving in the same direction as Red Bull and Mercedes. The Garrett turbocharger should become significantly larger, bringing its dimensions closer to those used by the strongest rival power units.
At the same time, Ferrari’s aerodynamic department is studying further solutions to compensate for the loss of the FTM system at the rear of the car. The FIA has banned the concept because of concerns that continued development could trigger an escalation in costs.
As a consequence, Ferrari will redesign the gearbox casing for 2027. The new transmission will no longer have to respect the packaging constraints accepted on the SF-26 in order to exploit the blown-exhaust concept as extensively as possible.
The result is a 2027 Ferrari project that is not expected to represent a rejection of the SF-26 philosophy, but rather an evolution of it. Maranello intends to preserve the aggressive packaging advantages of its current concept while addressing the areas in which the 067/6 has sacrificed performance. With a cooler intake target, a larger turbocharger, revised cooling requirements and a redesigned rear end, Project 679 is already taking shape as another ambitious technical step for Ferrari.
Leave a Reply