Red Bull may now make the FIA ruin Ferrari’s plan for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Austria

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Ferrari are raring to introduce an upgraded engine at the 2026 F1 Austrian Grand Prix, but Red Bull might now thwart their big plans for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

The Formula 1 field flocks to the Styrian hills this weekend in round eight of the season. The Scuderia are also heading into the Austrian GP riding a wave from Hamilton bagging his first win in red last time out in Barcelona, which has brought the Briton into the 2026 title battle.

Hamilton now sits just 41 points behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes at the top of the 2026 F1 drivers’ standings with 15 rounds to go. And Ferrari are ready to debut an upgraded engine in Austria to reduce the SF-26’s biggest weakness compared to the Mercedes W17.

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Red Bull’s ADUO appeal could stop the FIA from approving Ferrari’s upgraded engine

It is believed that Ferrari’s simulations show their engine upgrade is worth 0.2 seconds a lap, which will not match the power of Mercedes’ unit. Yet on the eve of the Austrian GP, Ferrari do not know whether the FIA will let them debut their upgraded engine at the Red Bull Ring.

READ MORE: F1 experts predict the Austrian Grand Prix, from pole and podium to the win

That is according to Fanpage, which reports that Red Bull appealing the FIA’s ADUO ruling is now threatening to derail Ferrari’s plan to give Hamilton and Leclerc extra power in Austria. Ferrari’s new engine is already primed, as they expected to merit upgrade tokens via ADUO.

Red Bull do not agree with the FIA’s verdict that they have built the best internal combustion engine, and thus want the governing body to review the criteria it used to decide the teams that could upgrade their power units. As a result, the FIA has yet to officially reveal its ruling as the unofficial communications that had already been issued to the teams is under review.

Unless the FIA decides that Ferrari’s initial ICE built to the 2026 F1 regulations is at least 2% worse than Mercedes’ version, which Red Bull are adamant is the best ICE, then it is unlikely to allow the Scuderia’s upgraded power unit to be introduced at the Austrian GP this week.

Lewis Hamilton is now only missing a Grand Prix pole position for Ferrari 🏆 Predict when it will come?

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Ferrari have provisionally been given two upgrade opportunities through ADUO, as the FIA believed their ICE is at least 4% worse than Red Bull’s concept. Thus, the Maranello natives pre-emptively developed an upgraded engine so that they could field it as soon as possible.

Additionally, Ferrari have worked with their partner Shell to produce a new sustainable fuel specifically for their upgraded engine. So, should the FIA delay approving Ferrari’s upgrades due to Red Bull appealing its ADUO ruling, then the team can also not run Shell’s latest fuel.

Shell’s new fuel is a fundamental aspect of Ferrari’s upgraded engine, as it will help them to run the combustion chamber at a far higher temperature. It is said that Ferrari have worked out how to run it at 110°C, which could yield a big improvement to their straight-line speed.