Ferrari brings first ADUO upgrade to Italian GP: 15bhp and the Monza equation

The 2026 season witnesses a major turning point at Monza as Ferrari decides to use its first ADUO development right. Trailing Mercedes by 87 points in the constructors' standings, the Italian team is betting on a 15bhp upgrade from a special token system to close the gap to its direct rival. In the first year of the 2026 engine regulations with a 50/50 energy split, Ferrari admits its chassis could be 'on par, if not better' than Mercedes. However, the performance deficit of its power unit has limited it to just two development tokens. Using the first token at Monza, Ferrari expects to halve the deficit to Mercedes, while still remaining more than 4% adrift of Red Bull – who was named the ADUO benchmark. The paradox lies in the fact that even with a 15bhp gain, Ferrari is still behind Mercedes' 'strongest complete package'. Mercedes' ERS efficiency, reliability, and drivability could help them maintain race-pace advantages, despite a lower peak power figure than Red Bull. With a new rear wing optimized for Monza's high-speed straights, Ferrari hopes to maximize circuit advantages, but this also represents a reliability gamble. Team principal Frederic Vasseur emphasizes 'marginal gains' and demands the team 'execute every aspect of the weekend as well as possible from Friday onwards'. That shows Ferrari is not expecting a miraculous leap. Amid the immense pressure of the home race and a grand celebration honoring Michael Schumacher, the question is not simply win or lose at Monza, but whether these 15bhp are enough to create a season-defining shift or will just remain numbers on paper.