Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of delivering flawless weekends after a string of costly outcomes in recent races. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three events – the Scuderia’s contention in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has begun to wane. 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 signs of speed at various points during a race weekend – most notably in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the opening laps of Q3 only to be relegated to fourth on the starting grid – the team has struggled to translate raw pace into consistent results. Now, as they head to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver momentum is critical and even minor errors are swiftly punished, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must operate at their absolute best.
"The recent races have proved that our car can be competitive, 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 car and flawless execution are essential. The circuit can throw a number of variables at us, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to any situation that arises, and seize every opportunity." Ferrari's dearth of podium finishes has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world title drought appear increasingly remote this season. Lead scorer Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time after retiring in Madrid with brake issues, while the Scuderia now trails Mercedes by 145 points 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. On the recent episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst Nico Rosberg observed that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the front‑running pace but are repeatedly let down by their weekend execution. "Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" the 2016 world champion asked. He added, "Their Achilles' heel remains strategy and communication – areas that have always been a weakness and continue to be so 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 once Max Verstappen let him through.
He would have easily taken second place behind Kimi. They're very close, but they aren't putting it together properly. They need to make progress on that – that's the main problem they face." The upcoming Baku weekend is packed with sessions. On Wednesday, September 23, the drivers' press conference is slated for 11 am, followed by the paddock uncut at 2 pm.
Thursday sees F2 practice at 6:55 am, the Azerbaijan GP practice one at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, and the team bosses' press conference at noon, with practice two starting at 1 pm and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm. Friday's schedule includes the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, practice three at 9:30 am, the F2 feature race at 11:10 am, and the crucial Azerbaijan GP qualifying at 1 pm, accompanied by Ted's Qualifying Notebook at 3 pm. Saturday features the F2 feature race two at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix start at 10:30 am, and the race itself on Sunday, with the Azerbaijan GP kicking off at midday, followed by post‑race analysis and Ted's Notebook at 3 pm.
All events will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking the start of a triple‑header of races. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time.
For Ferrari, the Baku race represents a pivotal moment. The team must address the strategic missteps and communication lapses highlighted by Rosberg, while capitalising on the inherent speed of the SF‑26. Success in Baku could revive their championship hopes and provide a much‑needed morale boost ahead of the remaining rounds. Conversely, another sub‑par weekend would further widen the gap to Mercedes and McLaren, making any comeback increasingly unlikely.
The Scuderia’s ability to adapt, stay focused, and execute flawlessly will be tested on the demanding streets of Baku, and the outcome could shape the narrative of their 2026 campaign.