Ferrari ‘quite down’ on horsepower but Leclerc acknowledges more to SF-26 deficit

Charles Leclerc has admitted Ferrari’s power unit is "quite down" on horsepower compared to rivals, but he insists the SF-26’s straight-line speed deficit is not solely an engine issue. The Scuderia remains winless in 2026 as Mercedes dominates, though the chassis shows promise.

Why it matters:

Ferrari’s resurgence under the new regulations is being held back by a power unit that trails Mercedes and potentially Red Bull Ford. The first ADUO evaluation period has closed, and Ferrari hopes to qualify for extra development to reduce the horsepower gap. However, Leclerc warns that even ADUO may not be enough to challenge Mercedes’ current dominance.

The details:

• Leclerc said Ferrari is "quite down" on horsepower and hopes to be included in ADUO, which would allow additional homologation upgrades.
• The FIA has not yet announced which manufacturers qualify; the evaluation ended after Canada.
• The driver noted the deficit is "a bit of both" — engine power and aerodynamic drag — meaning chassis improvements are also required.
• In Canada, Leclerc struggled while teammate Hamilton took second. Leclerc said setup differences were minimal (about a tenth), and his poor performance was due to lack of confidence rather than car issues.

What's next:

Ferrari awaits the FIA's ADUO decision. Even if granted, Leclerc believes catching Mercedes will be "very difficult." The team needs to address both power unit and chassis weaknesses to end its win drought and close the gap to the front.