Leclerc delivers Ferrari reality check ahead of first ADUO of F1 2026

Charles Leclerc has ruled out Ferrari closing the gap on Mercedes' power unit in the first round of F1's ADUO assessments, which comes into effect after the Canadian GP. Although he expects Ferrari to qualify for the additional upgrade, he says the deficit is too large for it to have a meaningful impact.

Why it matters:

ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) is the FIA's new mechanism to help underperforming engine manufacturers catch up, offering one or two extra homologation upgrades per season based on an ICE Performance Index. Ferrari's candid assessment suggests the system may not be enough to reshape the competitive order if the gap is as wide as Leclerc indicates.

The details:

• The first ADUO evaluation window closes after Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix. Manufacturers whose ICE is 2-4% behind the leader get one upgrade; those 4% or more behind get two.
• Leclerc's view: "I think it's going to be very difficult [to catch Mercedes]. I think they have a very big advantage." He expects Ferrari to qualify but isn't sure it will be enough.
• Performance gap: Ferrari was fifth and sixth in Sprint qualifying at Canada, with Leclerc 0.361s off the leading Mercedes. He noted straight-line speed deficits not just to Mercedes but also to Ford-powered cars.
• Team boss Fred Vasseur says he trusts the FIA to implement ADUO fairly, but acknowledged that measuring percentage differences on track is complex.

What's next:

Ferrari is likely to receive at least one ADUO upgrade later this season, but Leclerc's comments reinforce that the path to parity with Mercedes will be long. The real test of the system's fairness and effectiveness will come when manufacturers begin using their extra dyno hours and development tokens.