Ferrari plans power unit and fuel upgrade for Austrian Grand Prix

Ferrari is set to introduce a power unit upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, pending FIA approval, as the team looks to close the engine performance gap rivals have identified as the SF-26’s main weakness. The package centres on an enhanced steel-alloy cylinder head paired with a new Shell fuel compound engineered for higher combustion temperatures. Ferrari is expected to qualify for two ADUO development tokens, granting additional spending headroom to close on the benchmark power unit. Lewis Hamilton, 41 points off championship leader Kimi Antonelli, stands to be the primary beneficiary if the upgrade delivers its projected horsepower gains at the Red Bull Ring.

Sources: Autosport

Comments (0)

Red Bull brings second 2026 upgrade to Austria but team boss doubts it will close the gap

Red Bull is bringing its second major upgrade package of the 2026 season to the Austrian Grand Prix at the circuit the team’s energy drink brand sponsors. Team leadership has stated the package alone will not be sufficient to put Max Verstappen into genuine contention for race victories against Mercedes and Ferrari. The team has been reducing the RB22’s excess weight — it was six kilograms above the 768-kilogram FIA minimum after Miami — and a further reduction is expected at the Red Bull Ring. Verstappen has yet to win in 2026 and sits seventh in the drivers’ championship with 55 points.

Sources: Crash.net

Comments (0)

Mercedes traces costly 2026 retirements to common battery module fault

Mercedes has identified a recurring fault within the same broad section of the battery module as the root cause of a series of retirements this season. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli lost second place at Barcelona to the issue, and George Russell retired while leading in Canada, both failures linked to battery components. In a team video released Saturday, a Mercedes engineer confirmed most areas of risk have been identified and that fortunes as a fleet should improve as new battery modules are phased in. Russell’s failed unit from Montreal is still in sea freight en route back to the factory for analysis.

Sources: Motorsport.com

Comments (0)

Jak Crawford to take over Stroll’s Aston Martin for Austrian GP opening practice

Aston Martin has confirmed reserve driver Jak Crawford will drive Lance Stroll’s AMR26 in the first free practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 26. The Red Bull Ring outing will be Crawford’s fourth FP1 appearance for the team and his second of the 2026 season, fulfilling one of the two mandatory rookie sessions the team must complete with each car this year. Crawford joined Aston Martin as reserve driver ahead of 2026 after finishing second in the 2025 Formula 2 standings. Stroll will return to the AMR26 for FP2 and remain in the car for the rest of the weekend.

Sources: Aston Martin F1

Comments (0)

FIA’s Tombazis calls ADUO engine safety net a worthwhile objective for Formula 1

FIA single-seater technical director Nikolas Tombazis has described a potential FIA-managed engine concept as a very worthwhile objective that could protect Formula 1 if the number of manufacturer participants fell too low. Speaking in an interview published Sunday, Tombazis confirmed the FIA’s primary focus remains securing involvement from major automotive manufacturers but that internal discussions are ongoing about how exactly such a fallback engine would be structured. The ADUO framework currently distributes development tokens to manufacturers running below the Red Bull benchmark, with Ferrari, Mercedes and Audi all receiving additional spending allowance ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

Sources: RaceFans

Comments (0)

Audi tests new ADUO-funded engine package at Neuburg ahead of Austria

Audi ran its R26 at the team’s Neuburg facility in Germany this week in what is understood to be a shakedown of the upgraded power unit it plans to introduce at the Austrian Grand Prix. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto completed a 15-kilometre demonstration run during the test. Audi qualifies for ADUO development tokens as a manufacturer running well below the benchmark power unit, granting it additional spending to close the performance gap. The team is in its debut Formula 1 season and has scored just two championship points in 2026, both earned by Bortoleto at the Barcelona Grand Prix.

Sources: GPFans

Comments (0)

What's Trending in F1