2026 Scuderia Ferrari HP F1 Team

[deadhead]

A 2025 spec ICE vs. a 2026 spec ICE with higher compression ratio on top of it. What’s so unbelievable about a 30 hp deficit? Recent news have all been about Ferrari being in the ADUO2 ballpark.

It’s not that it’s theoretically unbelievable for one engine to be 30hp on another - I’m sure Honda is at least that far back - it’s unbelievable based on what we see from the actual performance of the cars as observed on track. I think 15 hp is believable, I’d be willing to accept 20 at a push, but 30 seems extremely unlikely from simply observing the cars.

As per my observation so far Ferrari has been destroyed by Mercedes on the straights and especially in the acceleration phases. Strongly suggestive of a big power difference and surely bigger than 15 hp. But soon we will find out anyway.

Isn’t the acceleration phase this year more about electricity rather than burning bio fuel?

[LM10]

It’s not that it’s theoretically unbelievable for one engine to be 30hp on another - I’m sure Honda is at least that far back - it’s unbelievable based on what we see from the actual performance of the cars as observed on track. I think 15 hp is believable, I’d be willing to accept 20 at a push, but 30 seems extremely unlikely from simply observing the cars.

As per my observation so far Ferrari has been destroyed by Mercedes on the straights and especially in the acceleration phases. Strongly suggestive of a big power difference and surely bigger than 15 hp. But soon we will find out anyway.

Isn’t the acceleration phase this year more about electricity rather than burning bio fuel?

And what gives you the electricity?

[Waz]

Due to lack of races in April, silly season starts early this year.
GP and Max to McLaren.
Stella and Piastri to Ferrari.

I like Oscar, but Charles would bludgeon him like a 2025 Lewis.

[collindsilva]

Due to lack of races in April, silly season starts early this year.
GP and Max to McLaren.
Stella and Piastri to Ferrari.

I like Oscar, but Charles would bludgeon him like a 2025 Lewis.

I think Piastri will move to AMR in 2028, once Alonso retires next year.

[wowgr8]

I wonder whether Ferrari are considering the gamesmanship element of ADUO. If they bring an upgrade that closes the gap to Mercedes, yet a small gap still exists, but a gap that's not big enough to trigger more ADUO, you're stuck in performance deficit purgatory.

The smart play would be to delay your upgrade until you're sure you're level with or ahead of Mercedes, while accounting for the fact that Mercedes definitely haven't shown their full hand yet. If the gap is indeed 30hp I struggle to believe they can close it with one upgrade so soon.

[catent]

I wonder whether Ferrari are considering the gamesmanship element of ADUO. If they bring an upgrade that closes the gap to Mercedes, yet a small gap still exists, but a gap that's not big enough to trigger more ADUO, you're stuck in performance deficit purgatory.

The smart play would be to delay your upgrade until you're sure you're level with or ahead of Mercedes, while accounting for the fact that Mercedes definitely haven't shown their full hand yet. If the gap is indeed 30hp I struggle to believe they can close it with one upgrade so soon.

As far as I understand, there is no way to 'game' (or sandbag) the ADUO system.

Power units are tested on the bench by the FIA; sandbagging, dialing back available power, or accounting for pace via chassis/aerodynamics/mechanics, are not part of the calculus whatsoever.

[amr]

I wonder whether Ferrari are considering the gamesmanship element of ADUO. If they bring an upgrade that closes the gap to Mercedes, yet a small gap still exists, but a gap that's not big enough to trigger more ADUO, you're stuck in performance deficit purgatory.

The smart play would be to delay your upgrade until you're sure you're level with or ahead of Mercedes, while accounting for the fact that Mercedes definitely haven't shown their full hand yet. If the gap is indeed 30hp I struggle to believe they can close it with one upgrade so soon.

As far as I understand, there is no way to 'game' (or sandbag) the ADUO system.

Power units are tested on the bench by the FIA; sandbagging, dialing back available power, or accounting for pace via chassis/aerodynamics/mechanics, are not part of the calculus whatsoever.

I think what wowgr8 is saying is: if you are at 97.5% of Merc power don't just rush to bring the next available update that will get you closer to 100%. If engineering time spent is directly translated in performance, maybe you are better off to delay say 2 races if you can flip the deficit and end up at say 101.5%. Also don't bring to much to give Merc an ADUO this year. I'm sure they considered this.

[bluechris]

They don't need to go to 101.5%, the car has the best aero, they just need to be similar and optimize the hybrid part.
Personally i really like what Ferrari is doing. They try hard to catch up with aero and everything else so when a good engine is bolted on, they will fly.

[DoctorRadio]

[f1316]

While I’m sure this is an unrealistic scenario, is it theoretically possible under these rules to:
(1) be entitled to 2x inseason upgrades due to being >4% behind
(2) introduce the first upgrade and entirely close the gap (or even be ahead)
(3) still be entitled to a second upgrade?

[LM10]

While I’m sure this is an unrealistic scenario, is it theoretically possible under these rules to:
(1) be entitled to 2x inseason upgrades due to being >4% behind
(2) introduce the first upgrade and entirely close the gap (or even be ahead)
(3) still be entitled to a second upgrade?

Once you’ve secured upgrades at the ADUO assessment, it’s locked in. If you’re behind by more than 4% you’ll get 2 in-season upgrades in the current and the following season regardless of catching up or even surpassing the leading PU already with your first upgrade (theoretically). It’s a system which does not penalize you by doing a good job at catching up. So bringing the strongest PU as soon as possible is favorable.

[f1316]

While I’m sure this is an unrealistic scenario, is it theoretically possible under these rules to:
(1) be entitled to 2x inseason upgrades due to being >4% behind
(2) introduce the first upgrade and entirely close the gap (or even be ahead)
(3) still be entitled to a second upgrade?

Once you’ve secured upgrades at the ADUO assessment, it’s locked in. If you’re behind by more than 4% you’ll get 2 in-season upgrades in the current and the following season regardless of catching up or even surpassing the leading PU already with your first upgrade (theoretically). It’s a system which does not penalize you by doing a good job at catching up. So bringing the strongest PU as soon as possible is favorable.

Ok thanks, that’s what i wondered. If it’s really true that the current Ferrari PU is essentially a modified 2025 one - and they have a proper 2026 engine up their sleeve, so to speak - I wonder if this might have been a real master stroke of “game theory” wrt ADUO.

I still find it hard to believe that their chassis is that much better than the Mercedes that it can still race against a car with 30hp more, but hey, let’s hope I’m wrong because it would mean Ferrari have a dynamite chassis.

[sucof]

I am not sure about if they are allowed to make a new engine every year, or is Mercedes stuck with their current engine for the following years if it is the best or equal?

[WardenOfTheNorth]

I am not sure about if they are allowed to make a new engine every year, or is Mercedes stuck with their current engine for the following years if it is the best or equal?

I strongly suspect that everyone will have to change their PU for next season anyway. No way the current PU spec continues unchanged.