Ferrari is preparing to introduce its evolved ADUO-2 power unit at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, but expectations inside Maranello appear more measured than some of the speculation surrounding the upgrade. The revised 067/6 engine is set to feature a new turbocharger and should deliver a genuine step forward in power, although sources close to Ferrari suggest the most ambitious estimates of a 10–15 horsepower gain may be overly optimistic.
The development comes at an important stage of Ferrari’s season. After a positive first half of the campaign that brought a return to winning ways and a solid second place in the Constructors’ Championship, the Scuderia entered the summer break with reason to see the glass as half full. There was, at the very least, confidence that Ferrari could fight for important objectives, while development of the SF-26 continued with the upgrades introduced in the Netherlands last weekend.
Ferrari sees Mercedes as a realistic target
The opportunity to challenge for significant results is far from guaranteed, but neither can it be considered unrealistic. Recent races have shown that Mercedes can be beaten, contrary to some of the concerns that emerged at the beginning of the season.
Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Spain and Charles Leclerc’s success at Silverstone changed the complexion of Ferrari’s campaign, while the increasingly competitive McLaren has provided further evidence that Mercedes is not untouchable. Ferrari’s objective is therefore to put increasing pressure on Toto Wolff’s team during the second half of the championship.
That ambition is also reflected in Maranello’s continued technical push. Ferrari has already been working to reduce its deficit under the current power-unit development framework, with the latest FIA ADUO rankings highlighting Ferrari’s position relative to its rivals.
Ferrari ADUO-2 targets Monza debut with new turbocharger
Ferrari therefore intends to debut its evolved ADUO-2 engine at the Italian Grand Prix, putting the latest specification into competition at Monza in front of its home supporters. The Maranello power-unit department has worked intensively towards that target, reaching the objectives required before final approval of the new specification.
As has been reported for some time and confirmed by sources close to Ferrari, the updated engine will feature a new turbocharger. The development of the 067/6 should allow Ferrari to recover some of the power currently separating it from the strongest units on the grid.
Under the most optimistic calculations, the improvement could potentially reach around 10 horsepower. Ferrari has also revised several smaller components, with the changes intended not only to increase outright performance but also to allow the power unit to sustain its output more effectively and provide stronger performance towards the end of the straights.
The technical programme forms part of a broader push for Monza, where Ferrari is preparing to exploit the characteristics of the high-speed circuit. The Scuderia’s wider plans for the weekend also include a reported Monza power boost following the major SF-26 aerodynamic update introduced at Zandvoort.
Ferrari insiders play down the hype around ADUO-2
The planned debut has been carefully evaluated by Enrico Gualtieri’s power-unit department. Despite rumours that had suggested otherwise, the evolved engine is expected to arrive on schedule in Italy, where Ferrari will homologate its fourth power unit of the season.
This time, however, the new specification is not expected to be accompanied by changes to the fuel. The focus will instead be on the mechanical evolution of the 067/6 and particularly the revised turbocharger.
Yet the expectations surrounding ADUO-2 risk becoming excessive. A similar situation emerged in Austria around Ferrari’s first power-unit evolution, when the potential benefits of the development generated considerable attention. The same caution now applies to the second step.
According to information gathered from sources close to Ferrari’s racing department, the new power unit will deliver a step forward in terms of performance, but the frequently discussed estimate of 10–15 horsepower is considered relatively optimistic compared with the improvement expected in reality.
That explains why the atmosphere inside Maranello is reportedly rather different from the widespread enthusiasm that some narratives around the project have projected externally in recent months. Instead, there is cautious optimism mixed with hope among Ferrari personnel, together with the awareness that the power-unit department has done everything possible within the known development restrictions.
Ferrari’s ADUO-2 remains an important part of its attempt to close the gap to the leading Formula 1 power units, but the team appears determined to judge the upgrade on its actual contribution rather than headline horsepower figures. A more detailed look at Ferrari’s ongoing car and engine development can be found in the site’s Ferrari technical analysis coverage.
The upgrade is scheduled to appear at one of the most important races of Ferrari’s season, with Monza next up on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar and the Scuderia aiming to maximise the benefits of its latest development in front of the Tifosi.
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