Ferrari’s ADUO 2 upgrade is no “game changer” for Haas either

Haas’ Aerodynamic Leap Dwarfs Ferrari’s Engine Upgrade in 2026 Qualifying

Oliver Bearman described Ferrari’s ADUO 2 power‑unit upgrade as “much smaller than the chassis evolution the Italian team has achieved.” The Prancing Horse delivered its second and final engine deployment for the 2026 season through the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities framework, with one upgraded unit mounted on Haas for the Italian Grand Prix run. That specific powertrain was installed in Bearman’s seat.

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There was modest progress for the American outfit: the young British driver managed a 12th‑place qualitative result, his best finish since the Chinese Grand Prix in March. Still, Haas suffered another seven‑point‑free round at Monza, extending its longest points‑less streak to seven straight rounds and matching its worst slump since its 2021 absence.

Bearman briefly sat in eighth during the opening laps before gradually falling behind as he struggled to match the pace of Stake and Red Bull vehicles. After riding without a pit stop under virtual safety‑car conditions, he ended the session in 15th under the checkered flag.

Team principal Fred Vasseur had repeatedly emphasized that the ADUO 2 engine was not poised to become a game‑changing weapon, and Bearman echoed that sentiment after his own testing day.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

“It’s only a modest step compared to what the [aerodynamics] package delivered,” the 21‑year‑old said. “Even though there’s room to grow on this circuit, on average over the season adding a higher‑output engine likely wouldn’t have broken through the Q1 fight for Haas if we ran this package at Zandvoort. I certainly don’t view the ADUO 2 as a game‑changer.”<br><br>
“More power is always welcome, but watch the recent news concerning how costly this unit is. It does bring improvements, yet the most significant leap came from the [aero] upgrade—roughly two to three times the power gain—which speaks to the effort shown, and I’m extremely proud of those drivers.”</p>

“The Haas update for Monza included a refreshed floor, revised side‑pod geometry, and a new engine cover. Though omitting the new power unit entirely, Ocon benefited from the enhanced aeromatics, yet still ended ten‑tenths behind his teammate in Q2.”

Yet Ferrari’s new engine remains worthwhile according to the Frenchman, who cited ongoing aerodynamic inconsistencies affecting his recent performances—a problem that has haunted him across 10 of his latest 13 Grands Prix this year.**

<img draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motorsport.com/images/mgl/25dLaeD0/s1000/esteban-ocon-haas-f1-team.jpg" alt="Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" />

<p class="title">Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team</p>
<p class="photographer">Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images</p>

<p>When asked whether the car’s inconsistency improved beyond what was seen in practice, Ocon replied: “Unfortunately, it wasn’t any better. We attempted every possibility—taking components from the garage to fit onto the chassis. We gave it everything, but we couldn’t pinpoint the cause.”</p>

<p>“Indeed, we’re still losing substantial negative down‑force compared to Báeman’s setup, particularly toward the rear of the car. It’s suboptimal, clearly, though the engineers did an exceptional job iterating the solution.”<br><br>
“I was pleased with my individual lap time—I’m confident in my effort. In the end, I executed a strong stint. Unfortunately, given the loss of rear down‑force combined with engine deficits, the margin drags against us. That represents the best we could achieve.”</p>

At minimum, the veteran found comfort in the efficiency gains applied to Oella’s sibling vehicle. Nevertheless, both cars finished behind the Williams‑powered Audi team, which remained roughly five points lower in the constructors’ standings.</p>
<img draggable="false" src="https://cdn.motorsport.com/images/mgl/6zoDPrP0/s1000/nico-hulkenberg-audi-f1-team-o.jpg" alt="Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" />

<p class="title">Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team</p>
<p class="photographer">Photo by: Andy Hone/LAT Images via Getty Images</p>

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