Ferrari to debut ADUO engine upgrade at Italian GP

Ferrari will introduce its ADUO-permitted engine upgrade at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, alongside a new rear wing and other track-specific parts. The Scuderia has confirmed the power unit, designated 067/7, has passed reliability checks in repeated bench tests and will be used in front of the home crowd at Monza.

Why it matters:

Ferrari has slipped 87 points behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship and has been outscored by McLaren in the last two rounds, failing to reach the podium. The engine upgrade is a crucial step in its bid to reignite a title charge, with the team targeting a strong result at a circuit where it has won just three of the last 19 Italian GPs.

The details:

• The 067/7 engine is the first of two upgrades Ferrari is permitted under ADUO rules. The revised power unit, developed under Enrico Gualtieri, features a new combustion chamber and turbocharger, delivering an estimated 15hp gain – enough to halve the deficit to Mercedes' benchmark engine.
• Engineers have also targeted a different torque delivery to improve the distribution of electrical energy, while a new Shell fuel adds further performance.
• Ferrari will run a more aerodynamically efficient version of its "Macarena" rear wing, not used before, along with a blown exhaust that could be tweaked for lower drag.
• The car will carry a special livery celebrating Michael Schumacher's success with the team.

What's next:

Ferrari's cause has been helped by Mercedes confirming Kimi Antonelli will take a back-of-the-grid penalty for a full power unit change. Team-mate George Russell is not expected to serve a penalty, though Baku remains a possibility. With one Mercedes driver starting at the back, Ferrari has a clear opportunity to outscore its rival and begin closing the gap.