Charles Leclerc is increasingly likely to take a new engine and a grid penalty at this Saturday's (26 September) Azerbaijan GP. The ADUO second-step upgrade engine that had only just been introduced at the Italian GP was damaged in his crash at Monza, and Leclerc has already used his full season allocation of all seven engine components. Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur told Canal+ that "Baku would be quite suitable".
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The ADUO second-step engine broken at Monza
On lap 2 of the Italian GP on 6 September, Leclerc spun at high speed on the exit of the Parabolica and hit the tyre barrier with the rear of his SF-26, ending his race. Grande Prêmio reported an impact of more than 50G. The problem is that this was a brand-new engine to the second-step upgrade specification that Ferrari had introduced that very weekend under the FIA's ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) scheme. According to Grande Prêmio, the FIA's initial assessment found the Ferrari engine more than 4% behind the benchmark and granted it additional upgrade opportunities.
According to GPFans, Leclerc is at the limit for all seven engine components, including the internal combustion engine (ICE), so using one more of any of them brings a grid penalty. At the Spanish GP (Madrid), Ferrari did not use the new engine straight away and went back to the previous ADUO first-step unit. Leclerc qualified only fifth and said he lost around 0.4s in the first sector alone. GPblog reported that the ADUO second-step specification is around 0.2s per lap faster than the first.
The sources differ on the engine's condition. PlanetF1 and GPFans, citing Motorsport.com Italy, said it was "not fatally damaged but can only be used in practice from now on, not in qualifying or the race", while Grande Prêmio said Ferrari "saved the engine after judging there was no major damage, but are still considering taking a penalty deliberately". GPblog wrote that Vasseur later confirmed a change would be needed. Either way, Ferrari are weighing up a penalty in Baku.
Why Vasseur chose Baku
Vasseur told Canal+: "We'll see when Charles has to take the engine penalty, but I think Baku would be quite suitable." The reason is the nature of the track. Although the Baku City Circuit is a street circuit, it has a long straight with the start-finish line, which gives plenty of overtaking opportunities. Tuttosport put that straight at more than 2km. GPblog explained that the slipstream effect is maximised on the long straight, making it a good place to absorb a penalty even when starting from the back.
There is a precedent, too. At Monza, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won despite starting 19th after a power unit change. GPblog reported that Ferrari want to repeat that scenario in Baku, where high-speed overtaking is possible. Grande Prêmio argued that, with Ferrari 145 points behind constructors' leaders Mercedes, running a newer upgraded engine for the remaining races could be worth more than protecting a few grid places.
The final decision comes after practice
Nothing is confirmed yet. GPblog said Ferrari will make the Baku penalty official after further evaluating the power unit, while Tuttosport reported that Ferrari will first test the ADUO second-step engine in practice and then decide whether to keep using it or fit a fifth engine and accept a penalty. Leclerc said: "If we can save it, good; if not, we'll take a penalty at some point," adding that the team was still checking the engine's condition. The sources did not say how many grid places the penalty would be.
Leclerc took four consecutive poles in Baku from 2021 to 2024 without winning, and his best result there is second in 2024. He is sixth in the drivers' standings, 19 points behind fifth-placed Lando Norris. Even if he starts from the back, how much ground he can recover is Ferrari's key storyline this weekend.
Sources
- PlanetF1 — Charles Leclerc's engine penalty situation ahead of Azerbaijan GP
- GPFans — Ferrari F1 star set for grid penalty at next race in Azerbaijan
- GPblog — Why Ferrari could pick Baku for Leclerc's grid penalty
- Grande Prêmio — Ferrari considers deliberate Leclerc engine penalty in Baku despite saving Monza unit
- Tuttosport — Ferrari sotto esame e Baku fra novità e mantra Vasseur