Following the Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, it has become clear that Ferrari has built an incredibly strong car across all types of corners, with excellent traction at low revs and impressive acceleration off the line. But is Maranello now working to replicate Mercedes’ trick with compression ratios? Here’s what’s emerging.
The Prancing Horse currently runs an internal combustion engine that is almost identical to the one used in 2025, albeit slightly evolved. However, this specification offers little room for further development, and Enrico Gualtieri‘s team is fully aware of it. Wolf Zimmermann had previously pursued a path that encountered too many reliability problems, and the project ultimately failed. As a result, Ferrari’s engine department developed a ‘Plan B’ to ensure sufficient reliability to start the season strongly. But reliability alone isn’t enough. The gap in engine power compared to Mercedes remains significant, partly due to compression ratios. The FIA has decided to introduce hot checks at 130 degrees from June 1, which is unlikely to limit the German power unit’s output. Ferrari is therefore taking preemptive action.
Ferrari aims to surpass the 16:1 compression ratio while awaiting a new engine
During Chinese GP qualifying, Ferrari lost around half a second on the straights. This makes it difficult to challenge Mercedes for pole position at most circuits. Even in Shanghai, where energy demands are less severe, differences compared to Melbourne remain noticeable. This confirms that Ferrari does not suffer from an ‘electric’ deficit. On every straight, there is a 5–6 km/h gap between Ferrari and Mercedes, although the SF-26 benefits from better traction thanks to a smaller turbo.
According to the Italian website AutoRacer.it, Brackley’s power unit can enjoy an advantage of around 15 horsepower from the internal combustion side compared to the Prancing Horse, according to a rival team. Meanwhile, at Maranello, engineers are reportedly working to “stabilize the compression ratio at a level higher than the current 16.0:1. In simple terms, this would guarantee a step forward in overall power to get closer to Mercedes, while also allowing for less degradation as mileage increases.”
With the current power unit, Ferrari is therefore trying to exceed the 16:1 compression ratio used by Mercedes to gain a significant advantage. On the electric side, however, the Silver Arrows remain the best at energy deployment. By analyzing Sprint sessions, Fred Vasseur’s team has managed to replicate some aspects by studying the data from the three-pointed star. The SF-26 has also shown better energy balance. Early races suggest that this year’s car shares similarities with the SF-24. Both cars feature strong aerodynamic downforce and an excellent chassis, offering impressive race pace but struggling to find the final tenths in qualifying.
The Scuderia continues to work tirelessly, awaiting a completely new engine architecture that could debut this season around the Belgian Grand Prix.
