Leclerc Runs Older Ferrari Engine Spec at Madring
Charles Leclerc will start the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Madring on an earlier Ferrari power unit specification than teammate Lewis Hamilton. The decision follows checks after Leclerc's Monza crash and prioritizes track time over immediate use of the latest ADUO2 unit.
Engine Choice at the New Circuit
Charles Leclerc will race the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at Madring on an ADUO1 power unit specification rather than the ADUO2 unit introduced at Monza.[1] Ferrari confirmed the Monza engine survived the impact without major damage; the team opted against reinstalling it for the Madrid event to avoid extensive post-crash inspections that would consume limited preparation time.[1]
Practical Considerations
Leclerc avoids a grid penalty because no new power unit is required.[2] The team will instead fit only a new transmission. Ferrari plans to retain the ADUO2 unit for later evaluation while Leclerc uses the prior specification at Madring.[2]
Related reading
- [1]Ferrari, l'ADUO2 di Leclerc è salvo ma a Madrid non verrà utilizzato (autoracer). Accessed 2026-09-11.
- [2]Charles Leclerc to avoid F1 Spanish GP engine penalty despite Monza crash (motorsport). Accessed 2026-09-11.