Ferrari's Mexico Engine Upgrade: More Consistency Than Raw Power

Charles Leclerc topped both Friday sessions in Mexico City, giving Ferrari an early benchmark at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The SF-26 looked at ease where low air density stresses cooling and turbo management, but Friday's order deserves caution: teams ran conservative modes while checking stress.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's power-unit programme remains under scrutiny. A strong Mexico showing at a circuit that exposes electrical and cooling weaknesses suggests Maranello has found a more usable performance window.

The details:

• Sources say Ferrari has Mexico-specific modes optimising combustion and electrical deployment for lower air density.
• That work is said to have become possible only after ADUO 2 arrived last September.
• The upgrade has not brought a clear horsepower gain; its main benefit is greater internal-combustion consistency, supporting different energy recovery and deployment strategies.
• Ferrari believes the SF-26 is now more competitive across different circuit types, including venues theoretically harder for its power unit.
• The car ran a softer setup, prioritising traction and tyre management to limit thermal degradation.

What's next:

Qualifying and the race will demand more aggressive modes. If a straight-line deficit has been hidden, it could surface. The early picture is still that the SF-26 is well positioned within its performance window.