Mercedes could introduce a significant ADUO engine upgrade at Monza as it seeks to defeat Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix and reinforce its position in the 2026 Formula 1 championship. The new power unit specification is reportedly being developed around changes to the combustion chamber and turbo, alongside new Petronas fuel, although using it would expose Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to grid penalties.
The 2026 Formula 1 battle is not being fought exclusively on the track. Teams have continued to introduce updates at almost every round of the championship because even a single tenth of a second can now represent the difference between winning a Grand Prix and finishing fourth.
Mercedes ADUO engine upgrade could arrive at Monza
Alongside the chassis and aerodynamic developments introduced by the teams, power unit manufacturers can also improve their engines through ADUO. The mechanism was introduced as part of the 2026–2030 Formula 1 power unit regulations to help manufacturers whose internal combustion engines, or ICEs, are considered less competitive.
Ferrari and Audi have already used one of their two permitted ADUO development steps, while Aston Martin is certain to do so at the next round. Mercedes, by contrast, has preferred to wait before bringing an updated engine specification to the track.
According to the latest reports, the Anglo-German team could introduce its new power unit at Ferrari’s home race during the Monza weekend. The intention would be to “spoil the party” for the Maranello team, which will naturally be targeting victory in front of the Italian supporters.
Motorsport Italia has also reported that the changes planned for the next engine specification would be far from marginal. Dyno testing is said to be progressing extremely well, with the new power unit featuring changes to the combustion chamber that would allow the intake temperature concept to be pushed even further.
Combustion chamber, turbo and Petronas fuel changes
The turbo would also undergo modifications. Its housing would retain a reduced diameter, but the number and angle of the blades would be changed to improve filling at high engine speeds.
As Ferrari has already done, Mercedes is therefore believed to be working on both the combustion area and turbo, pairing those changes with a new Petronas fuel. The objective is not limited to extracting more performance. Mercedes is also seeking a less extreme operating curve at maximum engine speeds while improving reliability, an area in which the team has experienced serious difficulties during the 2026 season.
Those problems have already affected both Mercedes drivers. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have each used four internal combustion engines because of several technical failures. George Russell’s latest setback in Hungary was subsequently traced to an engine fault that disrupted his start.
If Mercedes installs an ADUO-equipped power unit, both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell would therefore have to serve grid penalties. That makes the timing of any introduction an important strategic consideration for the championship leader.
Why Mercedes could choose the Italian Grand Prix
From a tactical perspective, changing the power unit at Monza could represent Mercedes’ best opportunity. Overtaking is generally easier at the high-speed Italian circuit than at many other venues, potentially limiting the damage caused by starting further down the grid.
It would also allow Mercedes to respond directly to Ferrari, which is attempting to reduce the power deficit exposed on the straights. Maranello has been working towards its own major ADUO-2 power unit upgrade for Monza, making the Italian Grand Prix a potentially decisive stage in the technical battle between the two championship rivals.
Mercedes’ objective would be to win at Ferrari’s home race while also avenging Charles Leclerc’s victory at Silverstone. The Ferrari driver defeated Mercedes on British soil, and the German manufacturer could now attempt to return the favour at the home of the Prancing Horse.
Ferrari confident in the strengths of the SF-26
Ferrari nevertheless appears calm about the prospect of a Mercedes response. The team remains confident that the SF-26 possesses a stronger chassis than its rivals, helping Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc compensate for the current power difference separating the two leading teams in the constructors’ standings.
The quality of the chassis has been one of Ferrari’s greatest strengths throughout the campaign, although the SF-26’s power unit deficit has limited its overall potential at circuits where straight-line performance is particularly important. Monza will provide one of the clearest tests of whether Ferrari’s engine programme has made sufficient progress.
The championship fight therefore remains finely balanced. Ferrari will aim to reduce the power gap and exploit the SF-26’s chassis advantage, while Mercedes must decide whether the performance and reliability benefits of its reported ADUO upgrade justify accepting penalties for Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
More answers should emerge when Formula 1 returns to the track in just under a month, with Monza already shaping up as a crucial confrontation in the 2026 development race.
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