Inside the Formula 1 paddock, ADUO has become one of the most discussed topics of the season. By now, most observers agree that Red Bull possesses the most powerful power unit on the grid, or more specifically, the strongest internal combustion engine, with Mercedes and Ferrari trailing behind.
Although the FIA has yet to publish the official figures, it is widely understood that Mercedes has reduced its deficit to just over 2%, allowing the German manufacturer access to additional development opportunities compared to Red Bull during this season and next. Ferrari, meanwhile, is believed to have faced a gap of more than 4%, earning two supplementary upgrades that can be used across 2026 and 2027.
There has also been considerable discussion surrounding Red Bull’s request for a review of the ADUO framework. However, regardless of those ongoing bureaucratic procedures, several manufacturers have already scheduled new power unit developments to debut in Austria, and Ferrari is among them.
First step: increasing temperature and pressure inside the combustion chamber
According to reports from the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Ferrari has already approved its first ADUO-related update and plans to introduce it this weekend at the Red Bull Ring.
As reported by Franco Nugnes, the upgrade focuses primarily on improving combustion efficiency inside the internal combustion engine. The modification is said to involve raising the intake air temperature by approximately 10 degrees Celsius, from the current 100°C to around 110°C.
According to the physical principles described by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, increasing temperature contributes to achieving a more compressed fluid, which in turn can lead to a more efficient combustion process. This solution has reportedly been made possible by Ferrari’s decision to design a steel-alloy cylinder head, a technical choice that had already attracted significant attention during the winter months.
Ferrari to focus on the turbo with the second step
Ferrari will carefully evaluate the gains delivered by this first update in Austria and throughout much of the second third of the season, which includes most of the European calendar.
However, according to Motorsport.com, the Scuderia is already planning the next phase of its ADUO development programme. Thanks to the second supplementary upgrade available under the regulations, Ferrari has reportedly not only identified the next area of focus but has also selected a potential timeframe for its introduction.
The second development step is expected to target the turbocharger, another area that generated considerable debate at the start of the year. Ferrari opted for a smaller turbine diameter than Mercedes in order to improve launch performance and reduce potential issues during race starts, although subsequent FIA decisions reduced part of that advantage.
That design choice, however, came with a compromise, limiting the amount of power available during race conditions. Rather than using its final ADUO development token in 2026 to alter the turbine’s overall size, Ferrari is reportedly aiming to improve performance by modifying the angle and number of blades used within the turbine wheel.
According to Motorsport.com, the second upgrade could arrive sometime between the Dutch Grand Prix and Monza. If that timeline is confirmed, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would have access to the enhanced specification for Ferrari’s home race at Monza, allowing the SF-26 to maximize its potential on the long straights of the Temple of Speed.
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