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Ferrari's ADUO Upgrade Adds 8 hp, Still Behind Red Bull

6/25/2026

Summary

Ferrari Introduces Upgrade

Ferrari introduced its ADUO engine upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Enrico Gualtieri saying it adds 8 hp and 2–3 hp from fuel, gaining one-tenth of a second per lap.
FIA analysis found Ferrari 4 %–6 % behind Red Bull and awarded two ADUO tokens, a turbo-charger upgrade for Monza.
The upgrades could recover up to 30 hp, still below the 40-45 hp deficit that leaves Lewis Hamilton 41 points behind Kimi Antonelli after Barcelona.

Summary

Audi Unveils Upgrade

Audi secretly rolled out its first ADUO engine upgrade at Barcelona, surprising the paddock.
The FIA’s ADUO system quietly shared performance rankings with teams during Monaco.
Red Bull Powertrains filed formal objections to the benchmark ruling, forcing a data review.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said their upgrade package targets performance and reliability after losing early-season edge.
Designer Adrian Newey warned the 2026 regulations could usher a power-unit-dominated era.

History

Historical Context

In 2014 the FIA replaced 2.4-L V8s with 1.6-L V6 turbo-hybrid units, adding a 100 kg/h fuel-flow limit and energy-recovery systems. Mercedes exploited the new formula, winning the Constructors’ title that year by 150 points and fielding a 870 hp (649 kW) power unit, establishing a performance gap. The gap has spurred upgrades from Ferrari, Red Bull and Audi and renewed regulator scrutiny in the ongoing hybrid-era arms race.

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Ferrari Introduces Upgrade

Ferrari introduced its ADUO engine upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Enrico Gualtieri saying it adds 8 hp and 2–3 hp from fuel, gaining one-tenth of a second per lap.
FIA analysis found Ferrari 4 %–6 % behind Red Bull and awarded two ADUO tokens, a turbo-charger upgrade for Monza.
The upgrades could recover up to 30 hp, still below the 40-45 hp deficit that leaves Lewis Hamilton 41 points behind Kimi Antonelli after Barcelona.

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