Formula 1 | Ferrari's work with ADUO: a profound overhaul of the power unit

The dawn of the new era of Formula 1 has reshuffled the values ​​on the field, bringing to light technical hierarchies that recall the beginning of the hybrid era. If Mercedes Benz seems to have rediscovered the brilliance of its best times, producing a power unit that currently represents the benchmark for the entire grid, the Classic Ferrari for sale However, it has not remained idle. In Maranello, work is proceeding at a rapid pace to fill the deficit of horsepower that separates the SF-26 from the peak.

The core of this comeback operation is called ADUO, Short for Additional Development and Upgrade OpportunitiesThis is a "catch-up" mechanism introduced by the FIA ​​to prevent one manufacturer from falling too far behind the others, thus ensuring tighter competition. Essentially, if an engine performs below a certain threshold compared to the best, the Federation grants extra test bench time and the possibility of homologating new components in derogation of the partial engine freeze.

Approval and efficiency of the combustion chamber

Ferrari will likely be authorized to conduct research and development on new components to improve the internal combustion engine (ICE), but the process is not without bureaucratic obstacles. Every time a manufacturer decides to introduce an update via the ADUO system, it must submit a new homologation dossier to the FIA. This document is a veritable technical ID card that describes every single modification made compared to the previous version.

These new features are expected to debut in Barcelona, ​​but the complexity of this documentation and the need to validate each element mean that homologation could take even longer than expected. The regulations, in this regard, are extremely strict: no new parts can be used on the track without the FIA ​​analyzing and approving every technical detail contained in the dossier.

Getting to the heart of the analysis shared by friends of Technical FormulaIt turns out that the power gap can't be solved by tweaking a single component. Ferrari is working on a major redesign that affects structural elements such as the cylinder head and crankcase. The most critical area of ​​intervention concerns the so-called "reshaping" of the combustion chamber and pre-chamber.

The goal of Maranello's engine engineers is to dramatically improve combustion efficiency. In a regulatory regime where fuel flow is limited and electrical energy accounts for 50% of total power, every single drop of fuel must be converted into thrust as efficiently as possible. Changing the shape of the combustion chamber optimizes flame propagation and piston pressure, translating into the extra horsepower needed to challenge the Mercedes engine on long straights.

MGU-K and the electric factor: not just petrol

If the thermal unit represents the traditional "muscle", the hybrid is the nervous system of the SF-26. The ADUO regulation also allows significant interventions on the kinetic motor-generator, i.e. theMGU-KThis component is responsible for recovering energy during braking (harvesting) and releasing it during acceleration (deployment). With the exception of the transmission connection shaft, which remains constrained, Ferrari has the freedom to redesign much of the electrical module.

Improving the MGU-K means making the energy charging and discharging phases more efficient. In a Formula 1 where the battery empties rapidly, having a system capable of recovering energy more quickly or distributing it more intelligently throughout a lap can be worth several tenths of a second. For Ferrari, matching the Mercedes' electrical efficiency would mean bringing the two cars to a nearly identical level of competitiveness, leaving the chassis and aerodynamics to make the final difference.

Another key piece in this technological challenge is represented by fuels. From 2026, Formula 1 will use 100% sustainable fuels, a transition that required very close collaboration between the teams and their respective suppliers. According to what was gathered by Technical Formula, historic partner Shell is said to have done an excellent job in developing a fuel that would best match the new geometries of the Ferrari combustion chamber.

While the role of gasoline may seem marginal compared to mechanical engineering, in the first year of a new regulation, fuel chemistry can unlock untapped potential in the internal combustion engine. Shell's ability to provide a blend that reduces the risk of premature detonation (so-called "knocking") is essential when pushing in-cylinder compression ratios to the limit.

The roadmap towards summer

Ferrari's recovery plan is structured in several phases. While the engine department is working feverishly to finalize the updated powertrain by the summer, the aerodynamics department is about to deliver the first major upgrade package for the SF-26 ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. This first step will be crucial to improving the car's aerodynamic efficiency, reducing drag and helping, albeit indirectly, to mask the current power deficits.

The real turning point is expected with the introduction of the "ADUO version" power unit. If Maranello manages to combine the gains from the new combustion chamber, a more efficient MGU-K, and optimized fuel, the 2026 championship could experience an extremely exciting second phase. All of this, of course, is contingent on the regulation changes that could be approved between tomorrow and April 20th, which will give Formula 1 a different identity starting in Miami.