Why won’t Leclerc use Ferrari’s ADUO2 engine in Madrid?

Charles Leclerc will not use Ferrari’s latest Formula 1 power-unit specification at the Spanish Grand Prix after the impact he suffered at the exit of Monza’s Parabolica last weekend.

Ferrari’s engineers have judged the 067/6 engine, equipped with the second package of modifications permitted by the FIA, to be structurally sound following external checks. However, the team does not want to take the risk of running it at the new Madring circuit before a more detailed inspection has been completed.

The decision follows a straightforward regulatory concern: an engine cannot be used if all of its homologated components cannot be worked on. No cracks or breakages have been found externally, but Ferrari will conduct further X-ray examinations to establish whether any smaller damage may have escaped detection.

As a result, Leclerc will postpone the return of the ADUO2 unit until first practice in Baku. He will instead run an ADUO1 engine in Madrid, while Lewis Hamilton will use the newer specification as planned. That gives Ferrari an opportunity to compare the two units’ actual performance under identical race-weekend conditions without exposing Leclerc’s engine pool to unnecessary risk.

Why Madrid makes the decision logical

The choice is particularly understandable at a circuit that is new to Formula 1. The drivers need maximum running time, while Ferrari’s engineers must collect data to define a setup capable of balancing very slow corners with faster sections. The Madring guide provides further detail on the demands facing teams at Madrid’s debut venue.

Madrid sits 667 metres above sea level, an altitude similar to the Red Bull Ring. That could have allowed the larger turbo compressor included in the ADUO2 package to deliver a performance gain in the thinner air. But any issue during Friday practice could have compromised Ferrari’s preparation for the Grand Prix, making caution the more valuable performance decision.

Ferrari still sees an opportunity

Despite the disappointment of Monza, Ferrari retains ambitions for a strong result. The SF-26 may be better suited to Madrid, where medium-to-high downforce is required and relatively low grip could reward strong traction on corner exit. Downforce is expected to matter more than efficiency, while the circuit’s 22 corners should offer more opportunities to recharge the battery than Monza and reduce the effect of the Mercedes V6’s power advantage.

Qualifying will be crucial if overtaking proves almost impossible. Should the weekend go badly, Ferrari could still introduce an ADUO2 engine from its available pool for Leclerc, accepting a first penalty for a fifth power unit but preserving sufficient reserve for the remainder of the season.