Ferrari has had its two new ADUO2 power units ready for around two weeks, but the Scuderia has still not made the final decision on whether Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will use them at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. The upgraded 067/6 is expected to deliver around 15 additional horsepower when combined with Shell’s new fuel, but the definitive green light for its Monza debut will only come once the remaining durability testing has been completed.
So far, no reliability problem has emerged that would prevent Ferrari from approving the evolved six-cylinder engine. However, the final decision is expected only at the end of the week, when the team formally signs off the components that will be sent to Monza. The delay may appear unusual given that the engines themselves are already available, but it reflects the lengthy validation process imposed by the current Formula 1 regulations.
Ferrari ADUO2 engine still completing durability tests before Monza
The mandatory summer shutdown has not helped Ferrari’s schedule. With the Maranello factory closed during the holiday period, the verification programme for the 067/6 took longer than it otherwise would have done. A durability test requires an engine to complete its entire intended life cycle without suffering a reliability problem, meaning the upgraded unit must successfully reproduce at least the distance of six Grands Prix on the test bench before receiving approval.
Ferrari’s power-unit department is believed to have 21 cells equipped with highly advanced test benches. However, cost restrictions and regulations designed to maintain a level playing field mean only two or three dynamometers can effectively be used for this work, with strict limits on operating hours further extending the process.
The challenge becomes even greater if a reliability issue appears during testing. Even a minor modification can require the approval cycle to be stopped and restarted from the beginning. It is an extremely detailed process in which even a small problem can interrupt a programme that must run without setbacks.
That is why Ferrari is still waiting for the final green light before installing the ADUO2 engines in the SF-26 cars that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are due to race at Monza. The development follows extensive preparation for Ferrari’s planned ADUO2 introduction at the Italian Grand Prix, one of the most significant power-unit steps of its 2026 season.
Ferrari targets around 15 hp from engine and new Shell fuel
The evolved six-cylinder engine is expected to offer around 15 additional horsepower in combination with Shell’s newly homologated fuel. Ferrari has also worked on producing a different power curve, with the objective of reducing the gap to the Mercedes power unit while improving the hybrid system’s energy-recovery phase.
The changes are not limited to the Garrett turbocharger. Ferrari has also made modifications inside the combustion chamber that should allow the 067/6 to exploit the properties of the new Shell fuel more effectively. The performance gain is therefore expected to come from the combined effect of a fuel with greater calorific value and the evolved combustion engine rather than from a single component.
The estimated gain is consistent with Ferrari’s wider technical push for additional power at Monza, where straight-line performance and energy management will be particularly important.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc set for special Monza SF-26 livery
If the ADUO2 receives final approval, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will race the upgraded power unit in SF-26 cars carrying a special commemorative livery celebrating Michael Schumacher’s extraordinary decade at Maranello. Ferrari has already prepared a special red, black and gold design for its Michael Schumacher tribute at the Italian Grand Prix.
Expectations for the race itself remain measured. Ferrari is not heading to Monza believing it should automatically be the team to beat, because the characteristics of the Temple of Speed do not appear, on paper, to suit the SF-26 particularly well.
Nevertheless, the hope is that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can get very close to Mercedes in qualifying. The W17 is regarded as the main benchmark for the weekend, with Mercedes considered an even stronger favourite than McLaren at this particular circuit. The championship leader has retained a strong overall position despite rivals closing the performance gap, while Mercedes still believes there is further potential to unlock from the W17.
Kimi Antonelli grid penalty could create an opportunity for Ferrari
One factor potentially working in Ferrari’s favour is Kimi Antonelli’s expected grid penalty. The Mercedes driver is set to fit his fifth engine of the season and is therefore expected to start 20th or lower. That unit will feature Mercedes’ ADUO1 development, from which the German manufacturer has also been able to extract additional performance.
Ferrari’s hope is therefore to remain close enough to the W17 to create an opportunity on Sunday, just as Lewis Hamilton managed in Spain and Charles Leclerc did in Great Britain. With Kimi Antonelli in a commanding position in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, the Italian text’s assessment is that the drivers’ title is now his to lose, while Ferrari’s more realistic championship opportunity remains the Constructors’ fight.
The Italian Grand Prix will also provide an important indication of how the Formula 1 engine hierarchy has changed following the corrections permitted through the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system. Monza is especially demanding because electrical energy recovery is difficult, making both internal-combustion performance and hybrid management particularly significant.
Ferrari SF-26 set for ultra-low-downforce Monza configuration
The SF-26 will be prepared in an ultra-low-downforce aerodynamic configuration for Monza. Ferrari also expects the floor and diffuser modifications introduced at Zandvoort to work in its favour, giving the team another opportunity to extract more from the package after a Dutch Grand Prix weekend that left some performance on the table.
During Ferrari’s Zandvoort debrief, the conclusion was reportedly that the SF-26 may have been running slightly too much downforce. The car appeared to have enough potential to challenge for the front row, but mistakes – including in the management of energy around the lap – ultimately left Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc only fifth and sixth on the grid. Ferrari subsequently began a broader review of the errors that affected its Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
Those lessons will matter even more at Monza. If Ferrari wants to put itself back into serious contention in the Constructors’ Championship, the execution of its home Grand Prix will need to be virtually flawless. Unlike the previous weekend, there will be no Sprint format, giving the team three full free-practice sessions to refine the SF-26, evaluate its ultra-low-downforce set-up and prepare for qualifying.
The final question is whether the ADUO2 will be part of that package. The engines themselves are ready and the initial reliability indications are encouraging, but Ferrari will wait until the durability programme is formally completed before approving their use. Until then, one of the most important elements of Maranello’s 2026 technical development programme remains poised for its potential debut at the Scuderia’s biggest home race.
Leave a Reply