Ferrari could already introduce its first ADUO-related power unit upgrade at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, provided the team receives final approval from the FIA in time.
The opening phase of the ADUO programme, often referred to as “ADUO-1”, may make its debut at the Red Bull Ring as Ferrari continues its efforts to close the gap to the leading power unit manufacturers under Formula 1’s engine concession regulations.
Ferrari chasing gains at the Red Bull Ring
“We’ll be strong in Austria.” Those were the confident words of Andrea Kimi Antonelli after his technical retirement in Barcelona, as the young Italian immediately shifted his focus to the next round of the Formula 1 season. The championship now heads to the Austrian Grand Prix, held at the Red Bull Ring in the hills of Styria.
The Austrian circuit features three significant full-throttle sections, making engine performance a key factor throughout the lap. Mercedes-powered teams are expected to benefit from the overall strength of their power unit package, which is currently considered the second-best engine on the grid by the FIA, behind Red Bull’s.
For that reason, Ferrari is eager to introduce what can be described as “ADUO-1” as soon as possible. This represents the first of the two upgrade opportunities permitted under the concession system designed to help manufacturers that are trailing the benchmark recover lost performance.
FIA approval remains the key factor
According to reports highlighted by Autosport, FIA approval will be crucial if Ferrari wants to race with the updated power unit package already in Austria. The modifications previously reported by AutoRacer.it are believed to deliver a combined performance gain worth approximately one-tenth of a second per lap.
The expected improvement would come from a combination of updates to the internal combustion engine and a new fuel specification developed in partnership with Shell. While a tenth of a second may appear modest, such a gain can be highly significant in the current era of Formula 1, where qualifying margins are often measured in mere hundredths of a second.
ADUO-2 could arrive after the summer break
The second stage of Ferrari’s concession programme, known as “ADUO-2”, is expected later in the season. Current projections suggest it could arrive either at the Dutch Grand Prix or the Italian Grand Prix following the summer break.
That package may include a larger turbocharger, addressing what is believed to be one of the structural limitations of Ferrari’s current power unit concept. The smaller turbine used by the Scuderia is understood to be one of the reasons why the SF-26 struggles to match some of its rivals on long straights.
If those changes are implemented, Ferrari hopes to improve top-speed performance while maintaining the drivability and efficiency characteristics that have remained strengths of its 2026 package. For now, however, all attention is focused on whether the FIA will grant approval in time for the first phase of the upgrade to make its debut at the Austrian Grand Prix.
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