Ferrari is grappling with a harsh reality: their straight-line speed deficit to Mercedes in the 2026 Formula 1 season is not a problem that can be solved overnight. Team Principal Fred Vasseur has emphasised that closing the power unit gap requires a "mega long" process far more complex than chassis upgrades.
Throughout the 2026 season, Ferrari has indeed struggled on the straights. Even with a new engine specification introduced at Monza, Lewis Hamilton highlighted the shortfall once again. Vasseur explained that engine development involves supply chain lead times and cost cap constraints that chassis development simply does not face.
"The process of the engine is mega long," Vasseur told media including Motorsport Week. "The chassis, you can make an upgrade from one day to the other very quickly and come back into the pace. On the engine, the process is mega long because the lead time of the parts is long and the cost cap is not easy – you have to produce the engine for the season."
To help lagging manufacturers recover, the FIA introduced Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) under the 2026 regulations. While the system grants supplementary development scope to trailing engine suppliers, Vasseur admitted the concessions will not instantly erase Ferrari's shortfall. "We are not expecting to recover with ADUO 1 or ADUO 2," he acknowledged. "We are doing small steps. If you make a small step on the engine, keep in mind that behind us, it was hundredths of a second."
Nevertheless, Vasseur remains optimistic that even a small horsepower gain will have a significant impact on grid position. "In terms of position, even if you make a couple of horsepower, it's a good step on the grid," he noted. "Now we will have a new engine next year. For sure, the target is to catch up as soon as possible."
With Maranello managing its manufacturing cycles and budget cap allowances, Ferrari remains focused on incremental gains for the remainder of 2026 before launching a fully revised power unit package for 2027. Meanwhile, rivals like Mercedes continue to charge ahead, and Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, must wait patiently for an engine capable of matching the German manufacturer's pace.
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