As has been known for weeks, if not months, Ferrari was well aware that it would obtain an ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) allowance from the FIA, placing the team in a bracket that allows them to significantly overhaul their power unit. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had previously highlighted the shortcomings of the Maranello engine, admitting that the performance gap to their rivals in this specific area was quite glaring.
Because of this, the engineers at Maranello were anxiously awaiting the results of the FIA’s investigation into manufacturer engine performance, which was originally expected right around the Monaco Grand Prix. However, on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix, the governing body kept quiet due to extra investigations being launched. Consequently, numerous rumors circulated over the last few days regarding the ADUO allocations, which have now been confirmed by Auto Motor und Sport.
A flurry of rumors
According to what has emerged, Ferrari—which, based on our internal sources, had anticipated and actively maneuvered to secure this ADUO allowance since at least the end of last summer—has prepared an aggressive, two-phase development plan for its power unit. The first phase will kick off with an upgrade package introduced in Austria, while the second step is scheduled to arrive at the end of the summer, despite the inherent difficulties in extraction of additional horsepower.
The entire project pushes forward with Ferrari’s unique “hot engine” philosophy, a design choice that should allow the engine specialists to utilize a significantly smaller heat exchanger. As has been known for some time, the Scuderia operates a power unit that runs with an intake air temperature of roughly 100 degrees Celsius, whereas rival manufacturers run closer to 70 degrees. This concept is made possible by a steel cylinder head that accommodates higher combustion chamber pressures than the competition. Because of this structural edge, these innovative concepts will not be abandoned; the “Evo” version of the engine is expected to push the intake air temperature entering the intercooler up to 110 degrees Celsius.
Focusing on the turbo…
This technical solution aims to reduce the performance deficit to Mercedes, with the remaining gap to be shaved off via a second ADUO allocation. According to recent reports from The Race, this second update should arrive by Monza and will target critical areas of the power unit, including the turbocharger. The Scuderia had initially chosen a smaller turbo than its rivals, sacrificing top-end horsepower to maximize launch acceleration off the grid without needing immediate deployment from the electrical systems.
However, following recent FIA technical interventions implemented for safety reasons, this specific Prancing Horse launch advantage has effectively vanished. Because of this shift, Maranello is now strongly considering modifying the dimensions of its turbocharger. “Rumors speak of an update arriving in Austria,” writes The Race, “with a further upgrade planned for Zandvoort or Monza, possibly featuring a larger turbocharger. Ferrari believes that the latter will allow them to match the power output of the Mercedes power unit.”
Extracting maximum performance from these technical updates will therefore dictate Ferrari’s competitiveness for the remainder of the season. As the team aggressively introduces these thermal changes and structural turbo revisions, finding the perfect balance between peak power output and cooling efficiency will be the defining factor in whether they can successfully halt Mercedes’ engine dominance and put both Leclerc and Hamilton back on equal footing in the 2026 title fight.
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