Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has warned that the Scuderia must tighten up its weekend execution 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 hopes dwindle. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium was the only podium the team has managed in the last five events, and the momentum that once propelled them toward both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles appears to be fading. The SF‑26 still shows flashes of speed at various points throughout a race weekend.
A recent example came at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position during the early part of Q3, only to start the race from fourth on the grid after the final lap of qualifying. That performance underlined the car’s underlying pace but also highlighted how easily that potential can be squandered.
Now the team 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 quickly punished. Vasseur stressed that Ferrari must be at its very best in order to compete. "The last few races have shown that the car is capable of delivering a respectable level of performance," Vasseur said, "but they have also reminded us how crucial it is to get every element of the weekend right.
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 look increasingly remote. In the Drivers’ standings, Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind the leader, Kimi Antonelli, after retiring from the Spanish race with brake issues.
In the Constructors’ championship, Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points. McLaren, currently sitting in third place, 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 Sky Sports F1 podcast The F1 Show, 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?" Rosberg asked, referring to the pattern that has haunted the team for years.
"The Achilles' heel is still in the strategy and communication areas. That's always been a weakness and it remains a weakness today. The car’s pace is close – it’s damn close to being able to challenge for race wins consistently. And even now, in Madrid, let’s not forget, Lewis would have comfortably been in second place.
He would have finished second after Max Verstappen let him through, and he would have easily taken second 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 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 will take place at 11 a.m., followed by a paddock‑uncut interview at 2 p.m. Thursday’s agenda includes an early‑morning F2 practice, the first Azerbaijan GP practice session at 9:30 a.m., and a team‑bosses press conference at noon.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix is slated for 1 p.m., with the F1 Show broadcast at 2:15 p.m. Friday’s program features the F2 sprint race, the third practice session for the Azerbaijan GP, and the crucial qualifying session that determines the grid for the main event. Saturday will see the F2 feature race followed by the Grand Prix itself, scheduled to start around midday.
The race will conclude with post‑race analysis, including Ted’s Qualifying Notebook and a reaction segment. All of these events will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the option to watch via NOW without a long‑term contract, allowing fans to cancel at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane action, and the Baku street circuit promises a dramatic showdown that could either cement Ferrari’s resurgence or underline the strategic and communicative flaws that have held them back.
For the Scuderia, the weekend represents a pivotal moment: turn the car’s raw speed into race‑winning results, or watch the opportunity slip away once again.