Ferrari is set to unleash an upgraded power unit at Monza this weekend, giving the Scuderia a timely boost at its home race and one of the most demanding circuits on the Formula 1 calendar.

The upgrade comes courtesy of Ferrari’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO), with the team among those granted extra homologation opportunities after FIA measurements revealed a significant internal-combustion engine deficit to Red Bull Powertrains.

Ferrari, along with Audi and Honda, was found to be more than four per cent behind RBPT, which currently sets the benchmark for combustion-engine performance.

For Ferrari, the timing could hardly be better. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have both pointed to a power shortfall against their rivals this season, even as the team’s chassis has remained among the strongest on the grid. At Monza, where outright efficiency and straight-line speed are crucial, every additional horsepower could prove decisive.

Team principal Fred Vasseur described the new power unit as “a step in the right direction”, while stressing the importance of marginal gains in such a closely fought season.

Beyond performance, Ferrari’s weekend carries a strong emotional significance. The team will honour Michael Schumacher 30 years after he joined the Scuderia, racing in a special livery inspired by the iconic 1996 F310.

With the Tifosi roaring from the grandstands, Ferrari arrives at Monza with more than nostalgia on its side. It now has extra power to chase glory.