Ferrari Plots Second 2026 ADUO Engine Upgrade With New Turbocharger After Summer Break

Ferrari is preparing its second ADUO power unit upgrade of the 2026 season, with a revised turbocharger slated to arrive after the summer break at Zandvoort or Monza. The Scuderia is pushing to close a confirmed performance gap after introducing an initial package in Austria built around aggressive thermal upgrades.

Why it matters:

FIA technical inspectors measured Ferrari's power unit deficit to the Red Bull-Ford ICE at more than 4%, officially crossing the threshold for Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities. While Red Bull disputes the findings and most observers still regard Mercedes as the true benchmark, the ruling gives Ferrari a regulatory lifeline. With Mercedes and Honda not introducing ADUO engines, Ferrari and Audi have a rare window to gain ground.

The details:

• Austria's "hot engine": A steel-alloy cylinder head replaces the traditional aluminium unit, letting engineers push combustion pressures and temperatures higher. For Austria, cylinder temperatures rise to 110°C from 100°C, paired with a higher-calorific Shell fuel to increase mechanical work and cut residual emissions.
• Aero payoff: Hotter running permits smaller radiators because the temperature delta narrows, trimming drag and complementing the efficient package seen in Barcelona.
• Turbo rethink: The post-summer turbo keeps the same impeller diameter but changes blade number, angle, and materials. Ferrari originally chose a smaller turbo to reduce lag after the MGU-H removal, but the FIA's mandatory five-second pre-start let every manufacturer spool up equally, wiping out that advantage.
• Barcelona proof: Despite a rumored 25-horsepower deficit, Ferrari's Spanish Grand Prix showed the car could compensate through superior aerodynamic efficiency in high temperatures.

What's next:

The second upgrade will reveal whether Ferrari's recovery plan can deliver race-winning potential. If the new turbo blends with the Austria power gains and the team sustains its aerodynamic edge, the Scuderia could turn a season-opening handicap into genuine second-half momentum.