Ferrari is set to unleash a significant engine upgrade, dubbed a ‘magic trick,’ at the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, a move designed to close the performance gap identified by the FIA. The accelerated introduction comes as the Scuderia aims to build on recent promising performances, including Lewis Hamilton’s inaugural win in red at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The FIA had previously assessed Ferrari’s engine to be four to six percent off the pace of its rivals. This deficit has been a critical factor, despite the SF-26 chassis demonstrating strong cornering capabilities. McLaren driver Lando Norris highlighted this disparity after the Barcelona race, telling Sky Sports F1, “We are lucky that Ferrari don’t have a better engine at the minute. If they had a better engine, they would be dominating. They are the class of the field in terms of cornering performance and we are not even close to them. We are a long, long way from where we need to be. If they make improvements on the engine side, they will embarrass everyone.”
Leveraging new regulations for a power boost
To address the power unit shortfall, Ferrari is leveraging the ‘ADUO’ catch-up mechanism, a provision in new FIA regulations designed to help trailing manufacturers bridge performance gaps without penalizing leading teams. This upgrade, initially slated for the Belgian Grand Prix in July, has been fast-tracked to Austria, underscoring Ferrari’s urgency.
The core of this “motore 3 evoluto” (evolved engine 3) upgrade involves pushing the boundaries of air intake temperatures. Historically, Ferrari channeled air into their engine at around 100 degrees Celsius, while competitors typically operated in the 70-80 degree range. With the ADUO2 iteration, Ferrari is now targeting an “unseen limit” of 110 degrees for air temperature, according to Motorsport IT. This higher temperature leads to a more compressed fluid, enhancing combustion efficiency. The upgrade also incorporates a newly designed turbine and will be combined with a new ‘higher-calorie’ Shell fuel, engineered to burn more particles while releasing fewer emissions.
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Championship aspirations and future plans
The timing of this upgrade is crucial for Ferrari’s championship ambitions. While Lewis Hamilton’s recent win at Barcelona, which interrupted Mercedes’ streak of six consecutive successes, offered a glimpse of the SF-26’s potential, he currently sits on 115 points, 51 behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The team hopes this engine boost, combined with the successful aerodynamic package introduced at Barcelona, will provide the necessary impetus.
Looking ahead, Ferrari plans to introduce a second phase of updates before the Italian Grand Prix in early September, signaling a sustained effort to challenge at the front. The immediate focus, however, remains on the Red Bull Ring, where the ‘magic trick’ engine will make its highly anticipated debut.
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