Ferrari is pushing to the maximum during the 2026 Formula 1 season, and at Maranello work is already underway on a new engine specification. The Scuderia has no intention of surrendering to Mercedes’ current superiority and is therefore exploring every possible solution to close the gap. One of the most significant areas of development is the power unit, with engineers reportedly preparing an upgraded concept that could deliver additional horsepower.
The Italian team has no intention of backing down despite the large advantage currently shown by Mercedes. Several important upgrades are already planned for the SF-26, including changes that will also involve the chassis. In China, Ferrari is expected to introduce the so-called Macarena wing version 1, the configuration that was validated by the FIA and briefly seen during testing in Bahrain. This solution is still undergoing refinement, and a more advanced specification could be ready in time for the Canadian Grand Prix.
For now, Ferrari is paying the price mainly in terms of engine performance, and the engineers in Maranello are already studying how to respond. The department led by Enrico Gualtieri has been working for some time on a new power unit concept designed to deliver more power and improve overall competitiveness. Here are the details of what could become one of Ferrari’s most important technical developments of the season.
The current engine is transitional: Ferrari preparing a new power unit even during 2026
According to an exclusive report by AutoRacer.it, Ferrari is developing a completely new engine based on a significantly different concept. There is even the possibility that it could be introduced during the current season if the right conditions are met. The current engine is considered a transitional solution and offers very limited development potential.
The new power unit would otherwise be ready for the 2027 season or could be introduced whenever necessary after race twelve of the championship, which corresponds to the Belgian Grand Prix. This option is made possible thanks to the ADUO system, which allows teams to intervene on the core of the SF-26 and unlock additional horsepower if certain conditions are met.
ADUO stands for Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities. It is a mechanism created by the FIA that is based on technical concessions designed to prevent a power unit manufacturer from falling too far behind its rivals during a new regulatory cycle. Essentially, it acts as a technical safety net.
How does it work in practice? The FIA constantly monitors the power output of the internal combustion engines used by each manufacturer. These checks are carried out periodically, typically every five races or over a longer evaluation window of up to 46 races. If the performance gap between manufacturers falls between two and four percent, the affected constructor is granted one additional development token along with extra hours on the dyno to work on improvements.
If the performance deficit is larger and exceeds four percent, the opportunities for upgrades become even greater. In such cases, teams may receive two development tokens and gain access to additional upgrade possibilities.
Furthermore, manufacturers may receive an increased Budget Cap allowance specifically dedicated to improving the power unit. This can include redesigning and re-homologating a different architecture for the engine, along with roughly thirty percent more dyno testing hours.
During the early races of the season, the team was already aware internally that it would likely suffer from a performance disadvantage. However, this situation can also be viewed with a degree of optimism, especially because such a proactive development approach has not been seen from Ferrari for many years.
The goal in Maranello is clear: Ferrari wants to fight for the title and challenge its rivals in every possible way. The new power unit project is therefore also aimed at the long-term future, particularly with an eye on the 2027 season. Closing the gap to Mercedes as quickly as possible is essential, and this ambitious development program may be the only way to achieve that objective.
The successful implementation of this new engine concept could redefine Ferrari’s trajectory for the second part of the 2026 season and beyond. By strategically leveraging the FIA’s performance-balancing mechanisms, Maranello is positioning itself to transform a transitional year into a genuine championship assault, ensuring that the battle for technical supremacy remains a multi-team fight until the very last race.
