Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has repeatedly emphasized that the Scuderia must improve the way it puts together an entire race weekend after a series of disappointing results in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching a victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – the Italian outfit has seen its championship ambitions wane. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, achieved just before the summer hiatus, remains the sole podium the team has collected over the last five events.
The short‑lived optimism generated by the SF‑26’s apparent pace has not translated into consistent points. In Madrid, for instance, Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position in the early part of Q3, only to fall back to fourth on the final grid. The pattern of strong single‑lap speed followed by a lack of race‑day execution has become a recurring theme for Ferrari.
Now the squad heads to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a circuit where driver confidence and flawless execution are essential and any mistake is swiftly punished. Vasseur warned that the team must be at its very best if it hopes to compete. "The last few races have shown that the car is capable of delivering a respectable level of performance, but they have also underlined how crucial it is to bring every element of the weekend together," Vasseur said. "Baku is a very specific challenge, where confidence in the car and execution are particularly important.
It is also a circuit where the weekend can throw up several variables, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to whatever situations arise and make the most of every opportunity." Ferrari’s recent scarcity of podium finishes has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought appear increasingly remote. After Hamilton retired in Madrid with brake issues, he fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time, while Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' Championship.
McLaren, sitting third in the standings, have outscored the Scuderia in each of the last four rounds and have narrowed the gap to just 52 points with nine races remaining. During an episode of The F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg remarked that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the front‑running pace but that their weekend execution continues to let them down.
"Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" the 2016 world champion asked. "Their Achilles' heel is still in the strategy and communication areas. That's always been a weakness and still is a weakness of theirs now.
Because the pace of the car is close – it's damn close to being able to challenge consistency for race wins. And even now in Madrid, let's not forget, Lewis would have been in a comfortable second position in the race.
He would have finished second after Max Verstappen let him through. He would have definitely finished second place behind Kimi quite easily. They're very close. They're just not putting it together properly.
And they really need to somehow make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing." The upcoming weekend’s schedule is packed.
On Wednesday, September 23, the drivers will take part in a press conference at 11 am, followed by a paddock‑uncut session at 2 pm. Thursday’s agenda includes early‑morning F2 practice, the first Azerbaijan GP practice session at 9:30 am, and a series of qualifying and press events throughout the day.
Friday features the F2 sprint, the third practice session for the Grand Prix, and the crucial qualifying run that determines the grid for the race. Saturday will see the F2 feature race and the main Grand Prix itself, with the race slated for midday. The day will conclude with post‑race analysis and commentary.
Sunday’s programming includes a build‑up to the race, the live broadcast of the Grand Prix, and a reaction segment after the chequered flag. All of these sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the option to watch via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver a triple‑header of races this week, and the Baku event promises high drama on its tight, high‑speed layout.
For Ferrari, the challenge is not just about raw speed but about eliminating strategic blunders, improving pit‑stop communication, and ensuring that the driver’s confidence in the car translates into flawless performance on race day. If they can align these factors, the Scuderia may yet turn the tide in Baku and keep their championship hopes alive.