Charles Leclerc says Ferrari have been pushing like crazy to get their latest power-unit update ready for the Austrian Grand Prix, as the Scuderia try to convert Lewis Hamilton’s Barcelona win into sustained pressure on Mercedes.
Ferrari have confirmed that a new specification will run at the Red Bull Ring under Formula 1’s 2026 ADUO allowance, the catch-up mechanism designed to give manufacturers scope to recover ground in the new engine era.
Leclerc’s comments matter because Ferrari’s recent form has split sharply across the garage. Hamilton won in Barcelona, ending Mercedes’ unbeaten start to the season, while Leclerc lost a likely major points finish there after earlier retiring from Monaco with brake trouble.
Ferrari’s Austria upgrade now carries immediate pressure
Leclerc said Ferrari’s push covered every single component of the car and admitted the exact gain from the power-unit package would only become clear once running begins in Spielberg.
The timing is aggressive. Austria’s short lap, heavy traction zones and long full-throttle sections make the Red Bull Ring an unusually clean audit of engine efficiency, deployment and drivability.
Ferrari’s problem is that the upgrade is not arriving into a quiet weekend. Mercedes still hold the benchmark advantage, McLaren are chasing a response, and Red Bull have their own home-race package in play.
Leclerc framed the target plainly: Ferrari want to be in the mix, especially over a race distance. Friday practice will decide whether this is a genuine Mercedes threat or another marginal gain dressed up by Barcelona momentum.
Source: Formula1.com.
