Ferrari now considering U-turn on key hallmark of SF-26 in bid for ‘power parity’ with Mercedes

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Ferrari are now weighing up abandoning the smaller turbocharger that has been a key hallmark of the SF-26, as they believe it can make their engine on par with Mercedes’.

The Scuderia are well aware that Mercedes have done a better job than them with building an engine to F1’s 2026 regulations. But there is hope in Maranello that the FIA giving them two upgrade tokens through ADUO will now let them get on par with Mercedes’ current PU.

Ferrari, Audi and Honda will each be allowed to introduce two engine upgrades this year via ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities). The FIA has deemed that their internal combustion engines (ICE) are 4-10% worse than the top engine, which is Red Bull’s.

Red Bull are appealing the FIA’s ADUO verdict, as they believe Mercedes have a superior ICE yet will be allowed to introduce one upgrade. The FIA says Mercedes’ ICE is the second-best engine, having only taken the ICE into account when judging which team built the best unit.

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Ferrari could now scrap their small turbo to be on power parity with Mercedes at Monza

Ferrari are wasting no time before introducing their first engine upgrade, with plans in place to debut a new power unit next time out at the Red Bull Ring. It is said that Ferrari will have an engine upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix that should work at even hotter temperatures.

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Plans are already in place for their second engine update, too, according to The Race. While Ferrari will take a ‘significant’ upgrade to Austria, the Scuderia are already looking at having their second engine update ready to debut at the Dutch Grand Prix or the Italian Grand Prix.

F1 heads to Zandvoort for the final Dutch GP for the foreseeable future on August 21-23 for the first round after the summer break, before then heading to Monza for the Italian GP on September 4-6. And Ferrari are raring to head home boasting ‘power parity’ with Mercedes.

In order to boast power parity with Mercedes’ current engine, Ferrari are even considering abandoning the smaller turbo that has been a trademark feature of the SF-26 this year. The pride of Italy are possibly now prepared to incorporate a ‘bigger’ turbo for the extra power.

From the very start of pre-season testing, Ferrari made rapid launches off the line as having a smaller turbo negated much of the power loss their rivals faced owing to F1 removing the MGU-H. Yet Ferrari have since seen their rivals catch up and their early advantage has gone.

So, while it was claimed in May ahead of the FIA’s ADUO ruling that Ferrari intended to stick with a smaller turbo throughout the season, a U-turn may be on the cards. Ferrari’s turbo is nearly 10mm smaller than Mercedes’ design, and costs them as much as seven horsepower.

All in, it is said that Ferrari’s first engine built to the 2026 regulations is 30 horsepower down on Mercedes’ design. But changes may be afoot, as Ferrari expect to eat 20 horsepower out of Mercedes’ advantage with their first upgraded engine for the Austrian GP on June 26-28.