Ferrari will introduce its evolved ADUO-2 power unit at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, a crucial step in its attempt to close the performance gap to Formula 1’s leading engines. The 067/6 evo is expected to feature a new turbocharger assembly and, according to the most optimistic estimates, could provide around 10-15 additional horsepower. Unlike the previous ADUO-1 development, however, Ferrari’s latest engine upgrade will not be supported by a new fuel development from strategic partner Shell.
The Ferrari ADUO-2 upgrade planned for Monza comes as Formula 1 enters the second half of the 2026 season following the Dutch Grand Prix. The opening half of the championship gave teams the opportunity to assess their progress, and Ferrari can view its first races positively after returning to winning ways and establishing itself in a solid second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
It is therefore a glass-half-full situation for Maranello. Ferrari can look ahead with greater confidence and believe that fighting for major objectives is a realistic possibility, meaning the team is prepared to leave no stone unturned as the championship develops.
Ferrari ADUO-2 upgrade targets more power at Monza
The possibility of Ferrari challenging for important results can no longer be regarded as unrealistic, especially after recent race weekends demonstrated that Mercedes can be beaten. Charles Leclerc’s victory in Great Britain and Lewis Hamilton’s win in Spain transformed the direction of Ferrari’s season and showed that the competition facing Toto Wolff’s Mercedes team is becoming increasingly intense.
McLaren has also returned to competitive form and, together with Ferrari, is aiming to put further pressure on the Brackley-based squad during the second half of the championship.
Work has meanwhile continued at full speed at Maranello. Ferrari intends to debut the evolved ADUO-2 engine at the Italian Grand Prix, with the power-unit department working relentlessly to meet the required targets before signing off the new specification. As previously reported, the upgrade will include a new turbocharger assembly.
The 067/6 evo should, at least on paper, allow Ferrari to recover a significant proportion of the power deficit separating the Italian manufacturer from Formula 1’s strongest units. Red Bull and Mercedes currently represent the reference points according to the FIA’s ADUO performance rankings.
In the most positive estimates, the ADUO-2 concession could provide approximately 10-15 horsepower. The refinement work should also allow the Ferrari power unit to sustain its performance more effectively and provide stronger acceleration towards the end of the straights, an especially valuable characteristic at Monza.
The debut is expected to take place on schedule at Ferrari’s home Grand Prix and will lead to the homologation of the fourth unit of the 2026 season. Expectations surrounding the upgrade, however, risk becoming excessive. Inside Maranello, the level of enthusiasm generated around the 067/6 evo does not appear to be fully reflected, with cautious optimism rather than outright confidence prevailing within the factory.
Ferrari could combine ADUO-2 with a new Monza rear wing
Placing all the attention on Ferrari’s new power unit could also obscure other possible developments being prepared by the racing department. Nothing has been confirmed, but considering Ferrari’s remaining budget, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the SF-26 could receive a new rear wing designed specifically for Monza’s extremely low-downforce requirements.
Such a solution would be intended to unload the car aerodynamically, maximise top speed and improve overall efficiency. Ferrari has already been working to extract more performance from the SF-26, with its recent aerodynamic and power-unit development programme forming part of the team’s push to reduce the gap to the front.
A Monza-specific rear wing could therefore become another weapon in Ferrari’s attempt to deliver its maximum performance at the Italian Grand Prix, secure a strong result in front of the Tifosi and make the most of the improvements introduced with the revised engine package. Expectations will inevitably be particularly high at Ferrari’s home event, where demand from Ferrari supporters has already made Sunday a sell-out.
Shell will not provide a new fuel for Ferrari’s ADUO-2 engine
There is, however, one important difference compared with Ferrari’s previous ADUO-1 development. The 067/6 evo will not benefit from additional support in the form of a new fuel specification developed by strategic partner Shell.
No fuel-related innovation is currently planned for the upgraded Ferrari power unit. Developments in this area can effectively provide additional horsepower and efficiency without being tied to the same budget or research restrictions affecting other areas of power-unit development, making them particularly valuable for engine manufacturers.
The absence of a new Shell fuel specification therefore means the ADUO-2 package will have to deliver its expected progress primarily through the work carried out on the Ferrari power unit itself. That does not mean development with the fuel supplier has stopped, however. Research is continuing, and improvements to Ferrari’s fuel could still arrive before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
For now, attention turns to Monza, where Ferrari will discover how much of the projected gain from its 067/6 evo can be converted into performance on one of the most power-sensitive circuits on the calendar. The team is approaching the upgrade with cautious optimism rather than the excessive expectations surrounding it externally, but the combination of the ADUO-2 engine and potential SF-26 aerodynamic changes gives Maranello another opportunity to strengthen its challenge during the second half of the championship.
