Several weeks ago, on the pages of ScuderiaFans.com, we asked a simple question: how was it possible for Ferrari to begin the 2026 Formula 1 season with a power unit that appeared significantly less competitive than those used by rivals Mercedes and Red Bull?
At the time, there was no clear answer. However, a recent report from the German publication Auto, Motor und Sport has provided some valuable insight into what may have happened within Ferrari’s engine department in Maranello.
Journalist Tobias Grüner highlighted three specific strategic decisions that appear to have compromised Ferrari’s engine performance. According to the report, these choices ultimately reduced the power available to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, particularly during the opening phase of the championship.
1. The smaller turbocharger
According to Tobias Grüner, Ferrari’s engine engineers made several conscious decisions, willingly sacrificing a portion of peak power in exchange for advantages in other performance areas.
The first of these was the adoption of a smaller turbocharger.
The concept was designed to improve launch performance and increase responsiveness at lower engine speeds. While the approach offered benefits in drivability and acceleration from slow corners, it came at the expense of maximum power output. Initially, Ferrari expected this choice to provide a meaningful advantage during race starts.
However, the FIA later modified the starting procedure for safety reasons, effectively eliminating much of the benefit Ferrari had hoped to gain from its design philosophy.
The decision reportedly frustrated Team Principal Fred Vasseur, as one of the power unit’s intended strengths was significantly reduced by the regulatory adjustment.
2. Ferrari’s FTM winglet
The turbocharger was not the only factor highlighted in the report.
Auto, Motor und Sport also pointed to Ferrari’s innovative FTM winglet, positioned behind the exhaust outlet. The small aerodynamic device was designed to generate additional downforce and improve the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the SF-26.
However, as the German publication explained, this clever solution also created increased exhaust backpressure: “The ingenious idea of placing a small wing behind the exhaust outlet generates additional downforce. However, because it increases exhaust gas backpressure, it slightly reduces engine power,” the report noted.
In other words, Ferrari gained aerodynamic performance but paid a price in terms of power unit efficiency and outright horsepower. It was another example of the team prioritizing overall vehicle performance rather than maximizing engine output alone.
3. A deliberate cooling compromise
The third factor identified by Tobias Grüner may be the most significant of all.
Ferrari reportedly designed its power unit to operate at relatively high temperatures. The objective behind this decision was straightforward: allowing the team to use smaller radiators and a more compact cooling package, generating aerodynamic benefits.
A smaller cooling system enables tighter bodywork, improved airflow management and potentially higher levels of aerodynamic efficiency. To cope with the increased thermal demands, Ferrari also developed a special cylinder head configuration capable of operating under higher temperatures. While the concept offered packaging and aerodynamic advantages, it came with consequences.
According to the report, these design decisions collectively resulted in a conscious reduction in the power output delivered by the SF-26 power unit.
Performance sacrificed for overall efficiency
Viewed individually, each of these choices may appear reasonable. The smaller turbocharger improved responsiveness, the FTM winglet generated additional downforce, and the compact cooling concept enhanced aerodynamic efficiency.
The problem, however, is that all three decisions pointed in the same direction: prioritizing broader vehicle performance characteristics over raw engine power. As a result, Ferrari may have entered the 2026 season with a package that offered advantages in certain areas but lacked the outright power needed to compete with the benchmark engines from Mercedes and Red Bull.
With the ADUO development concessions expected to allow Ferrari to introduce power unit upgrades later in the season, the team hopes to recover some of the lost performance. Nevertheless, the report from Auto, Motor und Sport offers a fascinating explanation of how a series of carefully calculated engineering decisions may have contributed to Ferrari’s early-season power deficit.
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