Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underlined that the Scuderia must tighten up its weekend execution after a string of disappointing results in recent Grand Prix events. Since clinching a victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – Ferrari's momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has waned.
Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, achieved just before the summer hiatus, remains the only podium the team has secured across the last five rounds. The SF‑26 still shows flashes of competitiveness at various points during a race weekend.
A recent example came 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. As the championship moves to the tight, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver confidence and error‑free performance are paramount, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must be at its absolute best.
"The past few races have demonstrated that our car can deliver a solid level of performance, 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; confidence in the car and flawless execution are especially 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 this season.
In the drivers' standings, Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time after retiring from the Madrid race with brake issues, while Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the constructors' championship. McLaren, currently in third place, 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 "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?" Rosberg asked. "Their Achilles' heel remains in strategy and communication – areas that have always been a weakness and still are today. The car's pace is close – damn close – to being able to challenge for race wins consistently.
Even in Madrid, Lewis would have been comfortably second had Max Verstappen let him through, and he would have easily finished behind Kimi. They're very close.
They're just not putting it together properly, and they need to make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing." The upcoming Baku event will test the team's ability to translate raw speed into results. The street circuit is notorious for its high‑speed straight along the waterfront, tight hairpins, and unforgiving barriers that punish even minor mistakes. Success there demands not only a fast car but also flawless pit stops, precise tyre strategy, and clear communication between drivers and engineers.
Ferrari will need to address several key areas: 1. **Strategic Decision‑Making** – Choosing the right tyre compound at the optimal time and reacting swiftly to safety‑car periods can mean the difference between a podium and a mid‑field finish. 2.
**Radio Communication** – Clear, concise messages to the driver reduce the chance of misunderstandings that can lead to costly errors. 3. **Pit‑Lane Efficiency** – Faster pit stops and error‑free tyre changes are essential on a circuit where track position is at a premium.
4. **Driver Confidence** – Leclerc and his teammate must feel assured that the car will respond predictably, especially when navigating Baku's narrow sections at high speed. If Ferrari can tighten these aspects, they could convert the SF‑26's evident speed into tangible points. The team’s technical staff have reportedly been analysing data from the previous three races to identify patterns where small mistakes compounded into larger losses.
By refining their approach, they hope to avoid the recurring “messy weekends” that Rosberg highlighted. The schedule for the weekend is packed, with practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself interspersed with supporting Formula 2 events.
Key times include: - **Wednesday**: Drivers' press conference at 11 am, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 2 pm. - **Thursday**: F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, team bosses' press conference at noon, Practice Two at 1 pm, and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm. - **Friday**: F2 sprint at 5:10 am, Practice Three at 9:30 am, F2 Feature Race 1 at 11:10 am, qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, Azerbaijan GP qualifying at 1 pm, and Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 3 pm.
- **Saturday**: F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, Grand Prix start at 10:30 am, followed by the main race at midday. - **Sunday**: Post‑race analysis and reactions beginning at 12 pm, with the chequered flag ceremony at 2 pm and Ted's Notebook at 3 pm.
All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional streaming available via NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. In summary, Ferrari’s challenge in Baku is two‑fold: harness the inherent speed of the SF‑26 and eliminate the strategic and communicative slip‑ups that have plagued them this season. Should they manage to align these elements, the Scuderia could re‑ignite its title hopes and perhaps finally break the long‑standing championship drought that has haunted the iconic Italian marque for nearly two decades.