Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underlined the necessity of flawless execution across an entire race weekend after a series of disappointing outcomes in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three events – the Scuderia's momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has noticeably waned.
Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, recorded just before the summer hiatus, remains the sole podium for Ferrari in the last five rounds. Despite the fact that the SF‑26 continues to demonstrate competitive speed at various points of a race weekend – most recently in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the early runs of Q3 only to start the race from fourth on the grid – the team has struggled to convert raw pace into consistent results. As the championship moves to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver confidence and error‑free performance are paramount, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game. "The recent races have shown that the car is capable of delivering a respectable level of speed, but they have also highlighted how crucial it is to piece together every element of the weekend," Vasseur said.
"Baku presents a very specific challenge, where belief in the car and flawless execution are especially important. It is also a circuit that can throw a number of variables at us, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to whatever situations arise, and make the most of every opportunity." Ferrari's dearth of podium finishes has pushed the team's aspiration of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought further out of reach this season.
After Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time – a gap that widened after Hamilton retired from the Madrid race due to brake failure – Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the constructors' standings. Meanwhile, third‑placed McLaren have outscored Ferrari in each of the last four rounds, narrowing the gap to just 52 points with nine races still to run. On the recent episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst Nico Rosberg pointed out that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the leading pace but are repeatedly let down by their weekend execution. "Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" the 2016 world champion asked.
"Their Achilles' heel remains strategy and communication – areas that have always been a weakness and continue to be so today. The car's pace is almost there – it's damn close to being able to challenge for race wins. Even in Madrid, Lewis would have comfortably finished second if Max Verstappen had let him through. He would have easily taken second place behind Kimi.
They're very close, but they aren't putting it together properly. They need to make progress on that, and that's the main problem they're facing." The upcoming weekend's schedule is packed with sessions that will test the team's ability to adapt quickly.
On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference is slated for 11 am, followed by a paddock uncut interview at 2 pm. Thursday sees F2 practice at 6:55 am, the first Azerbaijan GP practice session at 9 am (officially starting at 9:30 am), F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, and the team bosses' press conference at noon. The second practice session begins at 12:30 pm (starting at 1 pm) and the F1 Show airs at 2:15 pm. Friday, September 25, kicks off with an F2 sprint at 5:10 am, followed by the third practice session at 9:15 am (again beginning at 9:30 am).
The F2 feature race runs at 11:10 am, and the build‑up to qualifying starts at 12:30 pm. Qualifying itself is scheduled for 1 pm, with Ted's Qualifying Notebook airing at 3 pm. Saturday, September 26, features the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix practice at 10:30 am, and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself at midday. The race build‑up begins at 12 pm, the main event starts at 2 pm, and post‑race analysis with the chequered‑flag reaction follows at 3 pm, concluding with Ted's Notebook.
All of these sessions, including live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event, will be streamed via Sky Sports F1 and can also be accessed through NOW, which offers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane action, and the Baku race, as part of a triple‑header weekend, promises to be a decisive test for Ferrari. To close the championship gap, the Scuderia must not only rely on the inherent speed of the SF‑26 but also perfect their strategic calls, improve communication between pit wall and driver, and eliminate the recurring mistakes that have cost them valuable points.
Only by addressing these systemic issues can Ferrari hope to transform their near‑misses into victories and finally break the long‑standing title drought that has haunted the iconic Italian marque.