Ferrari is set to introduce the first updated power unit featuring the ADUO upgrade package at the Austrian Grand Prix. However, will the Scuderia’s customer teams also have access to the new specification immediately? And what kind of performance gain can be expected around the Spielberg circuit?
The Prancing Horse has completed development work on its power unit and is finally ready to introduce the first version of the upgraded engine in Austria. With the new specification now available, attention naturally turns to Ferrari-powered customer teams and whether they will receive the improved package straight away. At the same time, estimates are emerging regarding the potential lap time benefit that the updated power unit could deliver.
Ferrari was confident of falling within at least the 2% ADUO concessions threshold, allowing the team to benefit from additional budget allocation and extra dyno hours to accelerate work on the upgraded engine. The figures distributed to teams paint a very clear picture, with Ferrari reportedly exceeding the 4% mark by a comfortable margin.
Engineers in Maranello had been evaluating two possible approaches: introducing a smaller upgrade now or waiting six races before debuting a more substantial power unit with greater performance potential. In an effort to maximize the opportunity and apply pressure to Mercedes, Fred Vasseur’s squad ultimately selected Austria as the venue for the first deployment of the new power unit. Additional details regarding the installation of the upgraded engine have now emerged.
Ferrari completes work on new engine, with around 10 extra horsepower expected
According to information reported by AutoRacer.it, Ferrari has completed development of the first evolved power unit. As previously indicated, the updated specification is expected to provide approximately four to five additional horsepower thanks to revisions made to the internal combustion engine.
There is also the likely contribution of Shell’s revised fuel formulation. While the gain from the fuel itself is expected to be smaller, estimates suggest an additional two to three horsepower could be extracted through improved efficiency. Combined, the package could allow the SF-26 to gain around one tenth of a second per lap on a short circuit like the Red Bull Ring.
Clearly, nobody within Ferrari expects this first step to completely transform the competitive order overnight. Nevertheless, reducing the gap to the frontrunners is viewed as an encouraging outcome and an important step forward. The Scuderia must now decide when to introduce the second and much more substantial ADUO upgrade package. Many observers currently point to either Zandvoort or Monza as the most likely venues for the debut of the ADUO 2 engine.
The remaining two ADUO concessions would then be available for the 2027 season. With the arrival of the new power unit, both Haas and Cadillac will theoretically have access to the upgraded specification. However, there is no guarantee that they will adopt it immediately alongside the Italian manufacturer.
The regulations do not require customer teams to introduce updates at the same time as the engine supplier. In addition, supply management considerations must also be taken into account. An updated power unit can require modifications to the chassis, revisions to cooling systems, or other technical investments that teams may prefer to postpone until a more convenient stage of the season.
Under the current cost cap regulations, budget allocation has become a critical factor, with technical development programs often planned many months in advance. As a result, introducing a new power unit is far from a straightforward decision and may not necessarily be the most advantageous choice in the short term.
Haas and Cadillac can therefore request FIA approval to continue using the current specification, allowing them to avoid rushed chassis modifications and better schedule the integration of the upgraded package. For this reason, it appears highly likely that only the two Ferrari factory cars will run the ADUO 1 power unit in Austria.
For Ferrari, however, the most important aspect is the opportunity to continue developing its power unit. The ability to work directly on the engine package could represent the beginning of a broader recovery effort, one that may continue to deliver gains throughout the remainder of the season and into the months ahead.
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