LECLERC TO RUN ADUO 1 ENGINE AT MADRING
Charles Leclerc will not run Ferrari’s latest ADUO 2 power unit at the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring this weekend. Ferrari has instead decided to fit the ADUO 1 engine to the Monegasque’s SF-26 as a precaution following his heavy crash at Monza.
Leclerc’s ADUO 2 power unit was introduced at the Italian Grand Prix and did not suffer significant damage in the accident, according to reports from AutoRacer.it, Sky Sport and Motorsport.com. However, Ferrari has not had enough time to carry out all the checks needed before the Madrid weekend, with only a few days between the two races.
The decision means Leclerc will leave the newer specification aside for Madrid, even though the ADUO 2 upgrade worked as Ferrari expected at Monza. AutoRacer reported that the updated power unit improved Ferrari’s performance, particularly in qualifying, although the team still has a significant power deficit compared with Mercedes.
Ferrari’s second ADUO upgrade was designed to reduce the gap to the leading power units under the 2026 regulations. Before the update, the Ferrari internal combustion engine was estimated to be around 35–40 horsepower behind Mercedes, while AutoRacer estimated that the remaining gap after ADUO 2 was still close to 20 horsepower.
For Leclerc, however, reliability and having a fully checked power unit are more important than using the latest specification immediately. The ADUO 1 unit is therefore expected to be used for this weekend, while Ferrari can continue inspecting the ADUO 2 engine and decide when it is best to return it to Leclerc’s rotation.
The choice also makes sense from a strategic point of view because the Madring is expected to place less emphasis on outright engine performance than Monza. The new Madrid circuit has a complex layout with 22 corners, and drivers have highlighted the importance of qualifying because overtaking is expected to be difficult.
Leclerc will also arrive in Madrid fully cleared to race after his heavy Monza crash. The Ferrari driver walked away from the accident and subsequent medical checks found no serious injuries. He has since confirmed that he is feeling well ahead of the new Spanish Grand Prix.
The main question for Ferrari will now be how much performance Leclerc loses by running ADUO 1 instead of ADUO 2. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is expected to continue with the newer specification, giving Ferrari a direct comparison between the two power units on the same car concept during the first ever F1 weekend at the Madring.
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