Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of flawless weekend execution after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent events. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – the Scuderia’s momentum in both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships has noticeably dwindled.
Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, achieved just before the summer hiatus, remains the sole podium for Ferrari across the last five rounds. Despite the SF‑26 still showing flashes of competitiveness at various points throughout 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. With the Azerbaijan Grand Prix looming on the notoriously unforgiving Baku street circuit, where driver confidence and precision are paramount and any mistake is swiftly penalised, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game.
"The past few races have demonstrated that our car can deliver a respectable 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 venue where the weekend can throw up a number of 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 championship drought appear increasingly remote. Lead scorer Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time after retiring from the Madrid race with brake issues, while the Scuderia now trails Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' standings.
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?" 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 almost, damn close, to challenging 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 just aren't putting it together properly, and they need to make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing." The upcoming Baku weekend features a packed schedule.
On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference will take place at 11:00 am, followed by the paddock uncut at 2:00 pm. Thursday, September 24, sees F2 practice at 6:55 am, the Azerbaijan GP practice session one at 9:30 am, and F2 qualifying at 10:55 am.
The team bosses' press conference is slated for noon, with practice two starting at 1:00 pm and the F1 Show at 2:15 pm. Friday, September 25, includes the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, practice three at 9:30 am, and the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, followed by the build‑up to qualifying at 12:30 pm and the Azerbaijan GP qualifying itself at 1:00 pm. Saturday, September 26, hosts the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix start at 10:30 am, and the main race at noon, with post‑race analysis and reaction segments throughout the afternoon. All sessions are also available live on Sky Sports Main Event, and the 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the week.
Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held on a Saturday for the first time, kicks off a triple‑header of races, with the Baku event scheduled for midday on Saturday. This high‑speed street circuit, lined with towering walls, demands absolute precision from both drivers and teams. Any lapse in strategy, tyre management, or communication can quickly turn a promising run into a costly retirement.
For Ferrari, the stakes are high. To revive their title hopes, they must not only extract the maximum performance from the SF‑26 but also tighten up their pit‑stop procedures, improve real‑time decision‑making, and ensure clear, concise communication between engineers and drivers. If they can overcome these operational hurdles, the Scuderia still possesses the speed to challenge Red Bull and Mercedes, especially on circuits where raw pace can compensate for strategic missteps. The Baku race will therefore serve as a litmus test: will Ferrari finally align their car’s potential with flawless execution, or will the persistent weekend woes continue to undermine their championship aspirations?