Ferrari’s updates exposed ‘inadequate’ acceleration issue costing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc

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Ferrari increasingly need to qualify for ADUO to develop their engine, as their updates at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix proved more aerodynamic upgrades will not be enough.

The Scuderia debuted the most updates by any team at the Miami GP last week, with a total of 11 upgrades fitted on the SF-26 for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Florida. Ferrari’s focus was on developing their floor, suspension, rear wing and other areas of the bodywork.

But while the vast array of upgrades that Ferrari took to Florida helped to improve the aero-efficiency of the SF-26, neither Leclerc nor Hamilton could look to win the Miami GP. Leclerc led Ferrari’s hopes in the Miami GP, but he spun out of P4 before also earning a 20s penalty.

Leclerc received a 20s penalty in the Miami GP for cutting several corners on the final lap as he could not turn his car due to the damage sustained from his spin while running in P4. His penalty dropped the Monegasque to P8, while promoting Hamilton, among others, into P6.

Which F1 team were the biggest disappointment at the upgrade-heavy Miami Grand Prix? 📊

Data from @FDataAnalysis

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Ferrari need to upgrade their engine as the battery cannot compensate for the ICE’s lack of acceleration

Hamilton’s damage from his first-lap collision with Franco Colapinto in Miami cost the Briton any chance of fighting for more at Hard Rock Stadium. But the seven-time F1 champion had also only managed to qualify in P6 for the Miami GP, while Leclerc in P3 was 0.345s off pole.

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Ferrari now concede that further aerodynamic upgrades for the SF-26 will not be enough for them to rival Mercedes and also McLaren for more this season. So, Ferrari are ‘increasingly’ hopeful of qualifying for ADUO to be able to upgrade their internal combustion engine (ICE).

That is according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which notes that the SF-26’s ‘responsiveness’ and aero efficiency were ‘very good’ with Ferrari’s upgrades in Miami. Yet having a more agile car in the corners highlighted that Ferrari’s battery cannot atone for having an ‘inadequate’ ICE.

Ferrari’s engine ‘suffers decidedly’ from a lack of acceleration out of any slow corners, along with lacking power on the straights, as the electric part of the power unit cannot replace the ICE’s lack of punch. So, Ferrari hope the FIA gifts them an ICE upgrade token through ADUO.

The FIA is due to confirm which teams will qualify for engine upgrades through the new-for-2026 Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system after the Canadian Grand Prix on May 24. Any ICEs that are between 2-4% worse than the benchmark engine will get one upgrade token, while any ICEs that are more than 4% worse merit two upgrade tokens.

Hamilton and Leclerc are unlikely to see any change soon, though, even if Ferrari do qualify for ADUO. It is said that team principal Fred Vasseur doubts Ferrari can upgrade their engine before the summer, which he hopes can also help them dial out their super clipping issues.