- Ferrari targets Austrian Grand Prix with its first major engine upgrade of 2026.
- Shell’s new Hamburg-developed fuel blend is central to the expected power gain.
- Norris warns a stronger Ferrari engine would “embarrass everyone” on the grid.
Ferrari is set to bring its first significant engine upgrade of the 2026 season to the Austrian Grand Prix, and the timing could not be more significant. The upgrade is made possible by the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities framework.
The upgraded engine combines a revised cylinder head with a new fuel blend developed by Shell. Italian media reports suggest the package could cut Ferrari’s power deficit to Mercedes by roughly half.
Engine development in Formula 1 is frozen after homologation under the 2026 rules. The ADUO system exists to let manufacturers close the gap to the leading power unit through controlled, FIA-approved upgrades.
The FIA placed Red Bull’s engine as the benchmark for the internal combustion component. Mercedes received a 2% concession and is permitted one upgrade this year and one in 2027. Ferrari, measured at between 4% and 6% off the pace, earned the right to two upgrades in 2026 and two more in 2027.
Ferrari is currently awaiting FIA approval before introducing the third specification of its 067/6 power unit at Spielberg. The second upgrade is planned for Monza in September.
The fourth spec engine will coincide with the second ADUO window. The numbers for the Austrian package have shifted considerably. Early reports suggested a gain of around five horsepower.
That estimate has since grown to approximately 15 horsepower when the new Shell fuel is included, with the mechanical changes alone expected to contribute around 10 horsepower.
Steel heads, hotter combustion, and Shell’s secret ingredient
The philosophy behind Ferrari’s engine sets it apart from conventional approaches. Enrico Gualtieri’s engine department built the 067/6 around a steel-alloy cylinder head rather than the standard aluminium construction.
Steel tolerates far higher combustion temperatures. And according to Motorsport Italy, Ferrari has been running intake air into the intercooler at above 100°C, against the 60-70°C typical of rival designs. From Austria, that figure is expected to rise beyond 115°C.
Higher combustion temperatures allow a greater share of fuel particles to burn completely. That produces a cleaner, more efficient burn and turns more of the fuel’s energy into mechanical power.
Shell’s laboratory in Hamburg developed a new fuel blend specifically calibrated to work with this hotter-running setup, and the combination of fuel and mechanical changes underpins the expected power gain.
Ferrari’s vice-chairman, Piero Ferrari, spoke about the upgrade with measured optimism. As reported by Motorcyclesports.net, he said:
“With the possibility to intervene on the engine, who knows if it won’t become easier for us to challenge the Silver Arrows on every type of track.” He added: “It’s not in Ferrari’s DNA to settle for stage victories.”
Why rivals are already worried
Ferrari’s win at Barcelona last weekend carried a deeper meaning beyond the result itself. Lewis Hamilton crossed the line first after the SF-26’s second aerodynamic upgrade package gave the car a clear edge in tyre management and cornering performance. It ended a run of six straight victories for Mercedes.
Lando Norris finished third in Barcelona, nearly 24 seconds behind Hamilton. He was candid about what the Ferrari’s engine deficit is currently masking.
“We’re lucky that Ferrari doesn’t have a better engine at the minute,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. “If they had a better engine, they’re dominating. They’re the class of the field in terms of cornering performance at the minute.” He went further: “If they make improvements on the engine side, then they’ll embarrass everyone.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who worked at Ferrari during Michael Schumacher’s title years, drew a similar conclusion. “We see, especially in the medium-speed corners, that Ferrari is the fastest, not necessarily the fastest in the straights,” Stella said after the race.
Austria, Britain and Belgium place heavy demands on both raw power and energy management, and Ferrari structured its upgrade timeline around exactly this stretch of the calendar.
Red Bull is also expected to debut a significant package at its home race, which makes the Austrian Grand Prix a likely turning point in the 2026 season.
Hamilton sits 41 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Whether Barcelona was a breakthrough or the start of something larger may depend on what Ferrari’s engine produces in Spielberg.
