Ferrari’s latest engine upgrade, slated for the Austrian Grand Prix under the new ADUO system, promises improvements but not the instant performance leap the team had hoped for.
ADUO Explained
From 2026 Formula 1 will introduce Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities to limit power‑unit gaps. Every quarter, the FIA will rank the five different engines; the top performers get one upgrade, the others receive two.
During the recent Monaco Grand Prix, the regulators released the first ranking. Red Bull’s package was deemed the benchmark, with Mercedes falling 2‑4% behind and earning a single upgrade. Ferrari, Audi and Honda were over 4% off, so they each received two.
Ferrari’s Immediate Response
Irritated by the short‑notice upgrade, Ferrari hurried an updated component to Austria. Yet driver Charles Leclerc underscored that the change would not be a game‑changer: “We don’t expect magic bullets,” he said.
Leclerc added that a lot of background work was necessary to guarantee readiness. “We expected to be ADUO‑ready after the trace we had,” he explained, insisting the upgrade is “a step in the right direction” rather than a revolutionary change.
Technical Insight
Ferrari’s power‑unit technical director Enrico Gualtieri echoed Leclerc’s tone, describing the Spielberg upgrade as “relatively minor” and hinting that a revised turbo will follow the summer break as the team seeks to close the 72‑point gap to Mercedes.
Both Ferrari and its rival Red Bull confirmed that performance gains would be incremental, not overnight. The upgrade’s impact will be assessed over the season, but Leclerc insists that the Scuderia’s focus remains on long‑term gains.
Practice at the Red Bull Ring
Friday’s sessions revealed a challenging start for Ferrari. Driver Kimi Antonelli topped both FP1 and FP2, with Leclerc relinquishing the FP1 seat to junior Dino Beganovic and finishing eighth in FP2, 0.841 seconds off the pace.
Leclerc, who trailed the front‑row by 0.597 seconds behind Hamilton, was candid about the family’s struggle. “We’ve been sliding from all four tyres since the first lap,” he said. “Grip remains a key weakness on this fast, high‑speed circuit.”
What Lies Ahead
Ferrari is now eyeing a second, more substantial upgrade—an overhaul of the turbo—which is planned for after the summer break. While the team faces stiff competition from Mercedes, the authorities remain hopeful that gradual gains will keep the championship fight alive.
With the upgrade strategy defined, Leclerc and his teammates will focus on extracting every ounce of lap‑time advantage from the Austrian Sprint, the results of which will set the tone for the rest of the season.
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