Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of flawless execution throughout a race weekend after the Scuderia endured a series of disappointing results in recent events. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – Ferrari's contention in both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships has dwindled. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, recorded just before the summer hiatus, stands as the sole podium for the team across the last five rounds. Despite the SF‑26 still demonstrating competitive speed at various points during a weekend – most notably in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position in the early stages of Q3 only to start the race from fourth on the grid – the Scuderia has struggled to convert that pace into consistent results.
As the championship moves to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a venue where driver confidence and error‑free performance are paramount, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game. "The recent races have shown that our car is capable of delivering a strong 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 there. It is also a circuit where a multitude of variables can arise over the course of a weekend, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to any situation that emerges, and capitalize on every opportunity." Ferrari's paucity of podium finishes this season has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought appear increasingly remote. The points gap to championship leader Lewis Hamilton has widened to more than 100 points after Hamilton retired from the Madrid race due to brake issues, while Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' standings. McLaren, currently third in the championship, have outscored Ferrari in each of the last four rounds, narrowing the gap to just 52 points with nine races remaining.
On the recent episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst and former champion Nico Rosberg remarked that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the leading pace but continue to falter in the execution of race weekends. "Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" the 2016 world champion asked. "Their Achilles' heel remains in strategy and communication – areas that have historically been a weakness and still are today. The car's pace is almost there – it’s damn close to challenging for race wins.
Even in Madrid, Lewis would have comfortably finished second if Max Verstappen had let him through, and he would have easily taken second place behind Kimi Antonelli. They are very close, but they are not putting it together properly.
They need to make progress on that front; that is the main problem they face." The upcoming Baku weekend features a packed schedule. On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference will be held at 11:00 am, followed by a paddock uncut session at 2:00 pm. Thursday, September 24, will see the start of Formula 2 practice at 6:55 am, with the Azerbaijan GP practice session beginning at 9:30 am. The day continues with F2 qualifying, a team bosses' press conference, and a second practice session for the Grand Prix, culminating in an episode of The F1 Show at 2:15 pm.
Friday, September 25, includes the F2 sprint race, the final practice session for the Grand Prix, the F2 feature race, and the build‑up to Azerbaijan GP qualifying, which will take place at 1:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, hosts the second F2 feature race, the Grand Prix itself at midday, and post‑race analysis including the Chequered Flag reaction at 2:00 pm and another edition of Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm. All sessions marked with an asterisk will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be aired live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the week, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time. As Ferrari prepares for the high‑speed, high‑risk streets of Baku, the team’s ability to fine‑tune strategy, improve communication, and deliver a flawless weekend will be critical if they hope to revive their championship hopes and break the long‑standing title drought.