Ferrari to unveil upgraded turbocharger after summer break, targeting a tighter gap to Mercedes

Ferrari is preparing its second 2026 power‑unit upgrade under the ADUO programme, with a fresh turbocharger set to appear after the summer break in a bid to narrow the deficit to Mercedes.

After the first ADUO checkpoint following Montreal, Ferrari has been allowed two engine‑development credits for this season.

The team was told its power deficit exceeds 4 % versus Red Bull‑Ford’s ICE; the FIA’s data labels the Red Bull unit the current benchmark, a claim Red Bull contests.

Ferrari’s initial tweak for Austria targets a better match with Mercedes, a benchmark that most observers (aside from the FIA) regard as the real point of comparison.

With the first ADUO upgrade Ferrari hopes to temper expectations. It refines the combustion chamber by switching to a steel‑alloy cylinder head, letting engineers push higher pressures and temperatures that an aluminium block could not tolerate.

The “small” turbocharger was a calculated move at the season’s start, reducing turbo lag after the MGU‑H’s removal and delivering early performance gains.

But the anticipated start‑line edge has faded. The FIA’s five‑second pre‑start check now gives every manufacturer enough time to spin up their turbos, neutralising Ferrari’s early benefit.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

The new turbocharger will debut with Ferrari’s second ADUO credit, most likely at Zandvoort or Monza.

The impeller size stays the same, but blade count, geometry and material choices will be altered. While Mercedes and Honda are not using ADUO updates, Ferrari—following Audi’s lead in Barcelona—hopes to gain an early edge.

In Austria Ferrari intensified its hot‑engine approach, operating the cylinders at 110 °C rather than the current 100 °C during combustion.

Higher cylinder temperatures improve thermodynamic efficiency; paired with a Shell fuel of greater calorific value this lets more particles burn cleanly, cutting residual emissions and lifting mechanical output.

A smaller temperature swing also permits a compact radiator design.

Ferrari’s Barcelona upgrades showed the team could offset the 067/6 engine’s power shortfall against Mercedes by using more efficient, low‑drag aerodynamics. The intense Spanish heat apparently erased the reported 25‑horsepower gap.

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