Ferrari already planning ‘reconfigured’ engine to combat Mercedes’ super-clipping advantage

Follow us on Google Discover

Ferrari technical director Enrico Gualtieri has seen enough from the first two races of the 2026 Formula 1 season to know how best to combat Mercedes’ power unit advantage.

The first two weekends of the 2026 Formula 1 season have established Mercedes and Ferrari as the two strongest teams on the grid.

Kimi Antonelli secured victory at the Chinese Grand Prix after George Russell’s win in Australia, but Ferrari have finished third and fourth on both occasions.

Ralf Schumacher thinks Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are not ‘the best of friends’

Predict when the Ferrari drivers will crash with each other

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Ferrari are lobbying against changes to F1’s 2026 rules after designing their engine with a smaller turbo to avoid issues getting off the start.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have both raced into the lead this season, but have faced struggles keeping the Mercedes drivers behind once the opening sequences of the Grand Prix have finished.

However, Ferrari now feel they know what they need to change to counter Mercedes’ advantage, particularly when it comes to super-clipping and generating more energy for the battery.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Ferrari’s engine will be ‘electronically reconfigured’ to combat Mercedes’ power advantage

A report from Motorsport Italia has shared more details about Ferrari’s plans going forward.

It’s believed that Ferrari will benefit from the FIA ADUO rules, meaning that their power unit is more than 2% weaker than Mercedes’, allowing them to upgrade their engine after a quarter of the season has been completed.

Enrico Gualtieri’s team are set to ‘electronically reconfigure’ their engine to try and limit the super-clipping advantage that Mercedes currently have.

Battery recharge has become one of the biggest talking points this season, and Mercedes are able to generate more electric energy per lap, allowing them to protect their position better and produce more overtaking opportunities.

On top of this, Mercedes’ cars don’t suffer the same amount of top speed drop-off at the end of straights as other cars, giving Russell and Antonelli an advantage that the two Ferrari drivers can’t fight right now.

Fred Vasseur refuses to use team orders at Ferrari – Is he wrong?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Ferrari are studying the ‘torque curve’ of their power unit right now, as a surplus of energy during the acceleration phase could be causing more wheelspin in the rear tyres, impacting the tyre wear as well.

Fred Vasseur’s team are searching for two benefits: saving energy by limiting the use of the hybrid element of their power unit and improving tyre life.

The SF-26 has the best traction of any car on the grid, but the margins between finishing first and second this season are so fine that improvements need to be made now to avoid Mercedes building an insurmountable lead.

READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know

Lewis Hamilton proved at the Chinese Grand Prix that drivers don’t need batteries to overtake

Hamilton and Leclerc were the stars of the show in China, even if neither of them could challenge Antonelli for victory.

Their battle on track was fantastic, with Leclerc even coming on the radio and talking about how much he enjoyed it, even if he ultimately lost out.

David Croft has suggested Hamilton didn’t even need battery power to overtake Leclerc, which suggests the new regulations aren’t as reliant on the new hybrid power units than many are suggesting.

Ferrari hope to bring the Macarena wing to the Japanese Grand Prix as they continue to push at the beginning of this ruleset, and a first victory since the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix might be just around the corner.