Much has been written about Ferrari’s design of their all-new power unit for 2026, along with the early-season controversy when the FIA changed the start-procedure rules. The Scuderia had designed a power unit deliberately with a smaller-sized turbocharger based on the fact that the regulations did not allow for the hybrid component to assist the car when stationary and traveling below 50 km/h.
A smaller turbo spools up much more quickly, so the engineers in Maranello had anticipated a potential advantage they could gain from such a design. As the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull were bogging down in the early rounds of the year,the Ferraris were lightning-fast off the line at the start of a race.
Ferrari had raised the regulatory glitch back in the spring of 2025, where they challenged the FIA over what would inevitably lead to sluggish starts. F1’s governing body refused to rewrite the specifications of the power units, and so Ferrari went away, making the decision that they would build their engine accordingly.
Rule Changes and the Nullified Advantage
In testing and across the three early rounds of 2026, the SF-26 was lightning-fast off the line, but the FIA was about to change the regulations on safety grounds. A number of drivers had experienced very slow getaways in Australia, China,and Japan. Being stranded on the grid as the field streamed by at high speed was not something the FIA felt was acceptable.
So, prior to Miami, the rules were changed, which meant if a driver made a slow start, the MGU-K would kick in to provide an electrical power boost to compensate. This infuriated Ferrari, who felt that having raised the matter a year earlier, they had now designed their power unit to manage such a process.
Not only was their starting advantage somewhat nullified, but they now had to suffer from having a smaller turbo in places where a larger propeller blade would be of a significant advantage—along a straight, the longer the straight, the more advantage the bigger turbo provides.
Hamilton and the Straight-Line Deficit
This is why in recent weeks we’ve seen Lewis Hamilton in particular remarking about Ferrari’s lack of straight-line speed when compared to its competitors. When asked in Austin about Ferrari’s lack of straight-line speed when compared to their rivals, Hamilton revealed: “I haven’t seen the actual numbers this weekend. I think this morning it was like three-tenths, but in some places three to five tenths, maybe it’s four-tenths. It’s pretty impressive.”
Hamilton went on to note that rivals Mercedes and Red Bull had also recently improved their chassis, again wiping out a Ferrari advantage, but admitted as far as the Scuderia’s power unit is concerned: “We’re not able to take that step, in this season, to close that speed on the straight.”
The 2027 Overhaul
Sources have revealed to TJ13 that Ferrari is planning a huge overhaul of its power unit for next season. Having collected data all year, Ferrari’s power unit department—under the watchful eye of Enrico Gualtieri—is preparing a fundamentally revised power unit concept for 2027.
However, the regulations do not allow Ferrari or anyone else to go back to the drawing board with a blank sheet of paper,but the Maranello revisions are extensive enough that the 2027 powertrain is being treated as a completely new design.
Ferrari will ditch their smaller turbo concept given the rules around a standing start have been completely changed. This will affect in some way the packaging of the physical unit, with a redesign of the internal routing to better manage thermal stress.
There will be a more extreme aero-cooling integration to ensure the new, more powerful turbo doesn’t compromise the aerodynamic airflow across the sidepods and into the diffuser.
Mexico City Grand Prix Expectations
Despite being unable to fix their power deficit this season, Ferrari does go into the coming weekend of the Mexican Grand Prix as dark-horse favorites for some. In fact, George Russell is predicting that Ferrari will have a big advantage this weekend.
The British driver believes Ferrari’s smaller turbo will in fact be a significant performance-enhancing factor at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, which at altitude sits 2,238 meters above sea level. Such an altitude means the air is around 23–24% thinner (fewer oxygen molecules per breath), which impacts the F1 power units.
With less oxygen, the internal combustion engines are forced to work harder, as do the turbochargers, meaning engine designs with larger turbos will suffer more turbo lag. This means, theoretically, the much quicker-spooling turbo of the Ferrari will deliver incremental acceleration for Hamilton and Leclerc, which should compensate for their lack of top speed.
The top speeds available will also be reduced given the altitude, so Ferrari will converge more towards speeds capable of being matched by their main rivals. George Russell mused, “It’s going to be very interesting. I think turbo lag is going to be a big factor for a lot of teams this weekend,” in one of his media interviews.
“There’s obviously no secret, the likes of Ferrari have a smaller turbo than most, so they probably have quite an advantage in this regard. We’re not sure as yet how challenging it will be, but can definitely foresee it being not straightforward.”
Drivers React to the Weekend Ahead
Leclerc was quick to dismiss Russell’s “Ferrari favorites” theory: “I think Mercedes remain the favourites wherever we go,” he quipped. “I think Red Bull are very strong recently, but if we maximise everything we have, then I hope it can be a great weekend for us.
“And as we’ve seen, I think the optimisation of our package is what eventually will make the most difference. It’s so difficult to put everything in the right window coming into qualifying that if we manage to do so, then I think we’ve got a chance here, but for that we’ve got to be perfect,” concluded the Monegasque driver.
Power is less important at the Mexican Grand Prix, with the start-finish straight measuring just three-quarters of a mile in length at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The thinner air will also please the McLaren drivers too, who have been complaining their car feels somewhat draggy.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
