Ferrari has long been aware that it would qualify for the FIA’s ADUO allocation, placing the Scuderia in a position to make significant changes to its Formula 1 power unit. The opportunity became increasingly important after the team identified a clear engine performance deficit compared to its main rivals, with both drivers highlighting the shortfall from the opening Grands Prix of the season.
For months, Maranello has been waiting for the FIA to complete its investigation into which manufacturers would receive additional engine development opportunities before putting its plans into action.
The findings were originally expected shortly before the Monaco Grand Prix, but additional investigations launched by the FIA delayed the final outcome. Even so, reports circulating over recent months regarding the ADUO allocations—later confirmed by Auto, Motor und Sport—left little room for doubt. Ferrari will be able to benefit from the additional development opportunities available for its power unit, allowing the team to introduce two significant engine updates during the season.
Ferrari moves into action, but expectations remain realistic
According to information gathered, Ferrari—having anticipated and planned for ADUO eligibility since at least the end of the summer of 2025 because of its evident internal combustion engine power deficit compared to its rivals—has prepared a two-stage development programme for its power unit.
The first phase is expected to begin with an upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix. According to several reports from sources of varying reliability, the package has been tipped to deliver a gain of around seven to eight horsepower.
The improvement would come through a combination of Shell’s work on a revised fuel formulation and continued refinement of Ferrari’s 067/6 power unit. However, this is also where our sources close to the Scuderia suggest the situation is more complicated.
According to those familiar with Ferrari’s engine programme, the engineers have encountered difficulties extracting additional performance from the package. As a result, the expected increase in power could be around 40 to 50 percent lower than initially reported, meaning the overall gain is likely to be closer to five horsepower.
That improvement would still come from the combined efforts of Shell’s fuel development programme and the engine work led by Enrico Gualtieri’s department, but it would represent a more modest step forward than many had anticipated.
Attention already turning towards ADUO 2
Ferrari intends to continue developing its power unit around its well-known “hot engine” philosophy, an approach that allows the team to use a smaller heat exchanger. As is well known, Ferrari’s power unit operates with intake air temperatures of around 100°C, a concept made possible by its steel cylinder head, which enables higher combustion chamber pressures than those achieved by rival manufacturers.
Rather than abandoning this concept, Ferrari’s engineers intend to refine and optimise it further as development continues.
At the same time, the second ADUO upgrade—currently expected to arrive before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza—could include a much more significant intervention aimed at reducing the gap to Mercedes.
One of the main areas under consideration is the turbocharger. Ferrari originally opted for a smaller turbo than its competitors, sacrificing outright horsepower in exchange for stronger acceleration off the start line before the electrical systems could fully contribute.
However, FIA safety-related regulatory changes have largely eliminated that advantage, reducing the benefit of Ferrari’s original concept. As a result, the engine department is now evaluating a more comprehensive redesign of the power unit in an effort to climb back up the championship standings, close the gap to its rivals and perhaps even begin dreaming of much bigger ambitions.
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