[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https://cdn.crash.net/2026-04/m586525_f1_grand_prix_of_china.jpg?width=1600&aspect_ratio=16:9″]
F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli hints at “major changes” coming for Ferrari
Kimi Antonelli suggests Ferrari is set to benefit from a new F1 rule.
Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has seemingly confirmed that Ferrari has been granted Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities.
ADUO is a new rule introduced for the 2026 season that will provide three periods during the campaign in which rivals judged to be at least two per cent behind the best-performing power unit manufacturer are awarded engine development opportunities for this year and next.
The first ADUO period is set to be after the sixth round of the season, which originally would have been the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May. However, following the cancellation of the Middle East double header in Bahrain and Saudi, Miami will now be race four.
The topic is set to be discussed at the next meeting of the F1 Commission on 9 April, where a final deadline for establishing the performance ranking for ADUO will be set amid suggestions it could be postponed to Monaco.
Antonelli, who has moved nine points clear of Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the championship following back-to-back victories in China and Japan, appeared to confirm Ferrari is set to benefit from the rule.
“I know there will be major changes,” the 19-year-old told Sky Sport Italy. “For example, the ADUO that has been granted to Ferrari, which will allow them to develop the engine, they will definitely get much closer because their car is already strong.
“If they manage to improve the engine as well, they’ll close the gap even more. But I’m not too worried. In the end, once I get on track, I’ll focus on doing what I’ve done in the past race weekends: trying to be as fast as possible, focusing on myself and on what I have to do.
“I’m also sure that we will bring some important updates. The car is already strong and there’s a great dynamic within the team. So I’m not too worried, but I’m aware that the other teams will catch up sooner or later.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur believes his team will be in line to introduce an upgraded power unit.
“I’m not convinced that the new compression ratio rule will be a game changer, a huge game changer,” Vasseur said at the Chinese Grand Prix
“It’s more that you will have the ADUO at one stage, and that the addition of the ADUO will be an opportunity for us to close the gap.
“I don’t want to do the split [between chassis and power unit]. I want to push everywhere but we know that we have to improve on the ICE.
“But this will be for after the ADUO – on energy, on chassis, on aero. We are pushing like hell on every single area to close the gap.”
Ferrari will be keen for F1 to stick to the original deadline as it looks to hunt down Mercedes.
In this article
More News
Toto Wolff hails ‘unpredictable’ Kimi Antonelli F1 win rate
How Ferrari will work to close down Mercedes in April F1 break
Mercedes chief thought Kimi Antonelli was a ‘lost child’ when they first met
Why George Russell isn’t worried about early F1 title battle momentum shift
Why Mercedes is wary of F1 rivals despite unbeaten start to 2026
Ferrari takes advantage of unplanned F1 break with key tests
Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter
Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox
For more information see our Privacy Policy
Kimi Antonelli suggests Ferrari is set to benefit from a new F1 rule.
Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has seemingly confirmed that Ferrari has been granted Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities.
ADUO is a new rule introduced for the 2026 season that will provide three periods during the campaign in which rivals judged to be at least two per cent behind the best-performing power unit manufacturer are awarded engine development opportunities for this year and next.
The first ADUO period is set to be after the sixth round of the season, which originally would have been the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May. However, following the cancellation of the Middle East double header in Bahrain and Saudi, Miami will now be race four.
The topic is set to be discussed at the next meeting of the F1 Commission on 9 April, where a final deadline for establishing the performance ranking for ADUO will be set amid suggestions it could be postponed to Monaco.
Antonelli, who has moved nine points clear of Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the championship following back-to-back victories in China and Japan, appeared to confirm Ferrari is set to benefit from the rule.
“I know there will be major changes,” the 19-year-old told Sky Sport Italy. “For example, the ADUO that has been granted to Ferrari, which will allow them to develop the engine, they will definitely get much closer because their car is already strong.
“If they manage to improve the engine as well, they’ll close the gap even more. But I’m not too worried. In the end, once I get on track, I’ll focus on doing what I’ve done in the past race weekends: trying to be as fast as possible, focusing on myself and on what I have to do.
“I’m also sure that we will bring some important updates. The car is already strong and there’s a great dynamic within the team. So I’m not too worried, but I’m aware that the other teams will catch up sooner or later.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur believes his team will be in line to introduce an upgraded power unit.
“I’m not convinced that the new compression ratio rule will be a game changer, a huge game changer,” Vasseur said at the Chinese Grand Prix
“It’s more that you will have the ADUO at one stage, and that the addition of the ADUO will be an opportunity for us to close the gap.
“I don’t want to do the split [between chassis and power unit]. I want to push everywhere but we know that we have to improve on the ICE.
“But this will be for after the ADUO – on energy, on chassis, on aero. We are pushing like hell on every single area to close the gap.”
Ferrari will be keen for F1 to stick to the original deadline as it looks to hunt down Mercedes.
Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli has seemingly confirmed that Ferrari has been granted Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities.
ADUO is a new rule introduced for the 2026 season that will provide three periods during the campaign in which rivals judged to be at least two per cent behind the best-performing power unit manufacturer are awarded engine development opportunities for this year and next.
The first ADUO period is set to be after the sixth round of the season, which originally would have been the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May. However, following the cancellation of the Middle East double header in Bahrain and Saudi, Miami will now be race four.
The topic is set to be discussed at the next meeting of the F1 Commission on 9 April, where a final deadline for establishing the performance ranking for ADUO will be set amid suggestions it could be postponed to Monaco.
Antonelli, who has moved nine points clear of Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the championship following back-to-back victories in China and Japan, appeared to confirm Ferrari is set to benefit from the rule.
“I know there will be major changes,” the 19-year-old told Sky Sport Italy. “For example, the ADUO that has been granted to Ferrari, which will allow them to develop the engine, they will definitely get much closer because their car is already strong.
“If they manage to improve the engine as well, they’ll close the gap even more. But I’m not too worried. In the end, once I get on track, I’ll focus on doing what I’ve done in the past race weekends: trying to be as fast as possible, focusing on myself and on what I have to do.
“I’m also sure that we will bring some important updates. The car is already strong and there’s a great dynamic within the team. So I’m not too worried, but I’m aware that the other teams will catch up sooner or later.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur believes his team will be in line to introduce an upgraded power unit.
“I’m not convinced that the new compression ratio rule will be a game changer, a huge game changer,” Vasseur said at the Chinese Grand Prix
“It’s more that you will have the ADUO at one stage, and that the addition of the ADUO will be an opportunity for us to close the gap.
“I don’t want to do the split [between chassis and power unit]. I want to push everywhere but we know that we have to improve on the ICE.
“But this will be for after the ADUO – on energy, on chassis, on aero. We are pushing like hell on every single area to close the gap.”
Ferrari will be keen for F1 to stick to the original deadline as it looks to hunt down Mercedes.
[analyse_source url=”http://crash.net/f1/news/1092913/1/f1-championship-leader-kimi-antonelli-hints-major-changes-coming-ferrari”]