Charles Leclerc stated that Ferrari will hardly be able to immediately reduce the gap to Mercedes in the development of Formula 1 2026 engines, even with the possible granting of the ADUO, a system created by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) to balance performance between manufacturers.
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The first round of evaluations of the mechanism will be completed after the Canadian GP. The ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) provides extra updates for manufacturers whose engine performance is below the best on the grid in the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) Performance Index.
According to the rules, manufacturers with engines between 2% and 4% below the leader receive an additional update during the season. If the difference is greater than 4%, they are entitled to two.
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Leclerc believes that Ferrari should fit into the system, but considers Mercedes’ advantage too great for an immediate reaction: “I think it will be very difficult [to catch Mercedes]. I believe they have a very big advantage,” he said. “And the ADUO — I mean, obviously I don’t know yet if we are eligible — I would be surprised if we weren’t, because sometimes I see on the straights that we are a bit behind compared to Mercedes or even the Ford power unit.”
In qualifying for the Canadian GP sprint race, Ferrari finished fifth and sixth, with Lewis Hamilton 0.361 seconds behind the fastest Mercedes, while Leclerc finished just over a tenth behind his teammate.
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