Ferrari could be preparing a major breakthrough for the 2027 Formula 1 season, with reports suggesting that the Italian manufacturer has already developed a new engine specification capable of delivering up to 22 additional horsepower. Despite the performance improvement potentially being available, the Scuderia appears determined to keep the upgrade in reserve rather than introduce it during the final three races of 2026.
The decision could have significant implications for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, whose championship ambitions have been repeatedly compromised by the SF-26’s lack of straight-line performance. With Ferrari still trailing Mercedes and Red Bull in the power unit department, the reported development offers fresh encouragement that the team could address one of its biggest weaknesses before the next championship campaign.
Ferrari reportedly have a 22 hp engine upgrade ready for 2027
According to Franco Nugnes, a journalist with the Italian edition of Motorsport.com, Ferrari have already produced an improved internal combustion engine capable of generating approximately 21 to 22 horsepower more than their current specification.
However, the Maranello team is understood to be considering a strategic delay in introducing the development. With only three rounds remaining in the 2026 championship and relatively little left to fight for, Ferrari believe the advantages of keeping the new engine out of competition could outweigh the immediate performance benefits.
Nugnes explained that Ferrari already have the more powerful specification available but have chosen not to reveal its capabilities. The intention, he suggested, is to avoid encouraging rival manufacturers to respond with further developments before the beginning of the 2027 season.
He also indicated that the team might decide against introducing the upgrade at the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix, potentially preserving the entire improvement for next year. In his assessment, having such a substantial increase in power already prepared would represent an important foundation for Ferrari’s attempt to make a fresh start.
Beyond the technical progress, Nugnes highlighted another encouraging development within the organisation. He described a positive atmosphere at Maranello, with personnel showing a shared determination to work towards the same objectives.
Why Ferrari’s engine deficit has hurt Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
The importance of the reported upgrade becomes clearer when examining the SF-26’s performance characteristics throughout the 2026 season. Ferrari have frequently demonstrated excellent cornering ability, with their chassis arguably among the strongest on the grid on average. However, the team’s aerodynamic and mechanical strengths have not been enough to compensate consistently for its power unit disadvantage.
Lewis Hamilton has estimated that Ferrari’s straight-line speed weakness costs approximately four-tenths of a second. Such a substantial deficit makes it particularly difficult to challenge the leading cars on circuits where engine performance plays a decisive role.
The consequences extend beyond qualifying. Even when the SF-26 demonstrates competitive pace through corners, its lack of speed on the straights can make overtaking more difficult and limit the opportunities for Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to recover positions during races.
As a result, Ferrari have generally needed favourable circuit characteristics to fight for victories. The car’s strengths have been evident, but the overall package has lacked the balance required to mount a sustained challenge against Mercedes.
Addressing that weakness has therefore become one of the central objectives of Ferrari’s Formula 1 technical development programme, particularly as the team prepares for another opportunity to compete for the world championship in 2027.
FIA engine measurements show Ferrari still behind Red Bull and Mercedes
The latest FIA power unit assessments underline the scale of the challenge facing the Italian manufacturer. Ferrari’s internal combustion engine remains at least four per cent behind the benchmark established by Red Bull Powertrains, while Mercedes occupies second place with a deficit of approximately two per cent.
Mercedes’ smaller internal combustion engine disadvantage is believed to be compensated for by the performance of its battery system, leaving Ferrari in a less favourable overall position.
Nevertheless, the regulations introduced for the 2026 season provide manufacturers with opportunities to recover lost performance. Under the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system, commonly known as ADUO, manufacturers that fall sufficiently far behind the leading power unit can receive additional development allowances.
Ferrari have already taken advantage of those provisions by introducing two engine upgrades during 2026. The first arrived at the Austrian Grand Prix, followed by another development at Monza.
Despite those changes, the improvements have been relatively modest. Rough estimates suggest that the two upgrades delivered a combined gain of approximately five horsepower, making only a limited contribution towards reducing the deficit to Mercedes, previously estimated at around 25 horsepower.
The latest FIA ADUO assessment of Ferrari’s engine performance has reinforced the team’s position behind its main rivals while also preserving opportunities for further development.
Could Ferrari’s new engine finally eliminate the Mercedes power advantage?
A potential improvement of 21 to 22 horsepower would represent a considerably larger step than Ferrari’s previous upgrades this season. Compared with the estimated 25 hp disadvantage to Mercedes, such an increase could theoretically bring the Scuderia much closer to its rival in terms of internal combustion engine performance.
However, the significance of the development will ultimately depend on how the new specification performs within the complete power unit package and how much progress competing manufacturers make before 2027.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has repeatedly encouraged supporters to expect a more substantial improvement ahead of next season. The reported engine development would be consistent with that ambition, although the scale of the eventual competitive gain remains to be seen.
The team’s efforts have also involved important personnel changes within its powertrains department. Ferrari have recruited a former Mercedes technical specialist while parting company with one of their leading experts in energy recovery systems.
Those changes form part of the wider work taking place at Maranello as Ferrari attempts to strengthen its power unit operation and build a more competitive package for Hamilton and Leclerc.
For the Scuderia, the immediate question is whether introducing the new engine during the remaining 2026 races would provide sufficient value to justify revealing its performance potential. With the team increasingly focused on next season, keeping the development in reserve could be considered the more advantageous approach.
If the reported horsepower gains translate into a meaningful reduction in Ferrari’s straight-line speed deficit, the 2027 car could benefit from a considerably more balanced combination of chassis and engine performance. That would address a weakness which has repeatedly prevented the SF-26 from fully exploiting its strengths through the corners.
Ferrari’s championship prospects will still depend on the competitiveness of the complete car, but the possibility of entering 2027 with a substantially stronger engine represents an encouraging development for the Maranello team and its two drivers.
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