Leclerc: Ferrari's power unit 'lacking' vs Mercedes

Charles Leclerc has identified Ferrari's power unit as the primary weakness in its battle with Mercedes, citing a deficit in both optimization and "raw power." While praising the chassis as a strength, the Monegasque driver acknowledges that closing the gap to the championship leaders is a "huge challenge."

Why it matters:

Ferrari has established itself as Mercedes' closest rival in the early season, but a consistent power deficit is preventing the team from converting strong qualifying positions into race wins. Leclerc's candid assessment highlights a critical performance gap that must be addressed, especially with new engine upgrade regulations on the horizon that could help or hinder their 2026-2027 prospects.

The details:

• Leclerc pinpointed the power unit as "the biggest difference" between Ferrari and Mercedes, stating the team is "lacking" in raw power compared to its rival.
• He emphasized that optimization of the current power unit remains a significant area for potential gain, separate from the inherent power deficit.
• In contrast, Leclerc described the SF-24 chassis as "quite a strong car" and a current strength for the team, indicating a clear split in performance characteristics.
• The team sits second in the constructors' championship with 90 points, having finished third in every race so far, but trails Mercedes by 45 points.

What's next:

All eyes are on the upcoming Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) calculations after the Miami Grand Prix.

• This new system will allow manufacturers deemed to be behind the pace-setter to introduce performance upgrades in 2026 and 2027.
• Teams whose power units are measured as 2% behind the benchmark will be permitted one upgrade per year, while those 4% behind get two.
• For Ferrari, these calculations will be crucial. If their power unit is confirmed to lag behind Mercedes', it could grant them valuable upgrade tokens to close the gap under the next set of regulations, turning a current weakness into a future opportunity.