Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of delivering flawless weekends after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent races. 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 runner‑up finish in Belgium, achieved just before the summer hiatus, stands as the sole podium for Ferrari across the last five rounds. Despite the SF‑26 still showing flashes of competitiveness at various points during a race weekend – most recently in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position in the opening laps of Q3 only to start the race from fourth on the grid – the team has struggled to translate raw speed into consistent results. As the calendar turns to the tight, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver confidence and error‑free execution are paramount, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must operate at peak efficiency. "The past few events have proven that our car is capable of delivering a solid level of performance, but they have also highlighted how vital it is to bring every element of the weekend together," Vasseur said.
"Baku presents a very particular challenge – confidence in the machinery and flawless execution are essential. 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 pushed the team's hopes of ending an 18‑year world championship drought ever further out of reach. Lead driver Charles Leclerc now trails the championship leader by more than 100 points after a retirement in Madrid caused by brake problems, while the Scuderia sits 145 points adrift of Mercedes 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 remaining in the season. On the F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports analyst and former champion Nico Rosberg observed 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 remains strategy and communication – areas that have always been a weakness and still are 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 after Max Verstappen let him through. He would have easily taken second place behind Kimi. They're very close.
They're just not putting it together properly, and they really need to make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing." The upcoming Baku weekend is packed with sessions that will test Ferrari's ability to improve their operational precision. The schedule includes a drivers' press conference on Wednesday morning, followed by a paddock interview in the afternoon. Thursday brings a full day of practice and qualifying activities, with the first practice session slated for 9:30 am, a second practice at 1:00 pm, and the crucial qualifying session scheduled for 1:00 pm local time.
Friday features the final practice session at 9:30 am and the decisive qualifying run later that afternoon, while Saturday will host the race itself, with the start time set for midday. For Ferrari, the key to breaking their recent pattern of under‑performance lies in tightening up strategy calls, improving radio communication, and ensuring that pit stops are executed without error. In recent years, the team has occasionally faltered on pit‑lane timing, leading to lost track position that competitors have capitalised on. Additionally, the decision‑making chain – from the race engineer to the chief strategist – must become more cohesive, especially when dealing with Baku's notorious safety‑car periods and the need for rapid tyre changes.
Beyond the immediate tactical adjustments, Vasseur has hinted at a broader development plan aimed at extracting more consistent performance from the SF‑26 throughout a race weekend. This includes fine‑tuning the car's aerodynamic package to suit the high‑speed straights of Baku while maintaining enough downforce for the tight, twisty sections.
The team is also working on improving tyre management, a crucial factor on Baku's abrasive surface, where excessive degradation can quickly turn a strong qualifying effort into a disappointing race finish. If Ferrari can align their strategic execution with the evident speed of their car, they could re‑establish themselves as genuine title contenders. The Baku Grand Prix offers a perfect laboratory for testing these improvements under pressure.
Success will not only boost morale but also keep their championship hopes alive as the season enters its decisive phase. In summary, Ferrari must translate the promise shown in qualifying laps into race‑day results by eliminating strategic blunders, sharpening communication, and maintaining a clear focus on the variables that Baku presents.
Only then can they hope to close the gap to Mercedes and McLaren, and perhaps finally end the long wait for a world title.