Kimi Antonelli sends warning to Mercedes after Ferrari receive ADUO grant for 2026 engine

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Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes have control of the 2026 Formula 1 championship heading into the April break, but he has warned the team that Ferrari could soon mount a challenge.

The Italian won back-to-back races from pole position in China and Japan, giving him the lead of the championship over Mercedes teammate George Russell. The W17 has been the class of the field, with rivals unable to provide serious competition.

Ferrari have finished third in every race so far. They have an advantage in race starts with the smaller turbo, but do not have the overall package to challenge Mercedes for a race win – that could change when racing returns in May.

Ferrari are set to test their Miami GP aero package over the next month to prepare for the next race. With a one-month gap in the calendar due to the conflict in the Middle East, the Maranello outfit are using their time to better the SF-26.

Ferrari’s Miami upgrades could solve Lewis Hamilton’s superclipping issue, and they could receive another boost from the FIA. Antonelli has heard that they have received a grant from the ADUO to improve the engine.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli warns Mercedes that Ferrari will get ‘even closer’ with ADUO grant

The Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities allow manufacturers to develop the engine if they are significantly behind the frontrunners. Speaking to Sky Italia, the Mercedes driver understands that Ferrari will close the gap to them after the break.

However, it is not something that Antonelli is too worried about: “I know there will be some big changes: even the Aduo that was granted to Ferrari, for example, which will allow them to develop the engine…

“They will definitely get much closer, because their car is already strong, so if they can also improve the engine, they will get even closer.

“But I’m not too worried. Ultimately, once I get on track, I’ll focus on doing what I’ve done in the past weekends: trying to go as fast as possible, focusing on myself and focusing on what I have to do, on the goal that is set every weekend.

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“Then I’m sure that we will also bring some pretty important updates: the car is already strong and there’s a good dynamic in the team, so I’m not too worried, but I know that the other teams will catch up sooner or later.”

Ferrari have expressed frustration over the 2026 F1 regulations, particularly with how Mercedes have exploited them. They were forming a protest over how the Silver Arrows had found a loophole with the compression ratio of the power unit.

Ferrari are demanding answers from the FIA over how Mercedes are also gaining performance from an emergency mode during qualifying. The Maranello outfit will be looking for any way possible to get the edge over their rivals.