Why Ferrari removed the FTM winglet in Austria and what it reveals about the new ADUO engine. New ADUO engine debuts as Ferrari tests low-drag SF-26 configuration for high-speed circuits.

Ferrari already running the new ADUO engine? Why the SF-26 tested without the FTM winglet as part of a carefully planned strategy

Ferrari’s Friday programme at the Austrian Grand Prix provided several important technical clues. The Maranello team not only introduced its first ADUO-related Power Unit upgrade but also carried out extensive aerodynamic testing without the FTM winglet, gathering valuable data for the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

By the end of FP1, the FIA’s official documentation confirmed what many had been waiting to discover. Both Ferrari SF-26s were fitted with fresh Power Unit components, including a new internal combustion engine featuring the updated ADUO specification, along with a new turbocharger, MGU-K, Energy Store and Control Electronics. The only major component that remained unchanged was the exhaust system.

With this first ADUO upgrade package, Ferrari is expected to gain approximately seven additional horsepower, helped further by Shell’s revised fuel formulation. Friday’s opening practice session therefore became an ideal opportunity for the Scuderia to evaluate the new package under race weekend conditions, particularly with Dino Beganovic replacing Charles Leclerc in one of the cars and allowing the engineers to perform additional comparison tests.

Why Ferrari removed the FTM winglet

Before FP1 began, FIA technical documents revealed that Dino Beganovic’s Ferrari would run without the FTM winglet as part of a dedicated data collection and correlation programme. Initially, it was widely believed that these tests were connected to preparations for the 2027 Formula 1 regulations, especially since the FIA has already decided to ban the device from next season.

However, according to information reported by the Italian website AutoRacer.it, Ferrari’s objectives were much more immediate. The comparison tests were specifically designed to understand how the SF-26 behaves on the fastest circuits of the calendar, where reducing aerodynamic drag becomes a key performance factor.

The report suggests Ferrari is highly likely to remove the FTM winglet at both the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Eliminating the device would reduce drag around the rear of the car, improving straight-line speed while also providing a small, although measurable, benefit to the overall efficiency of the Power Unit.

Silverstone also under evaluation

Ferrari is also evaluating whether to race without the FTM winglet at Silverstone. A final decision, however, will only be made after engineers complete a full analysis of the data gathered during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

The Scuderia also experimented with additional aerodynamic variations between the two cars. Lewis Hamilton’s SF-26 featured a slimmer and less complex sidepod deflector design, closely resembling the specification Ferrari used up to the Miami Grand Prix. This lower-drag configuration has been developed specifically for circuits requiring reduced aerodynamic load.

Later in the session, however, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion returned to the aerodynamic profiles previously used at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, allowing Ferrari to complete another valuable comparison before the team’s engineers analyse all the data ahead of the upcoming high-speed races.