Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has warned that the Scuderia must tighten up its weekend performance after a string of disappointing results in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – the Italian outfit has seen its championship aspirations dwindle.
Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium remains the only podium the team has secured in the last five events, a stark contrast to the early‑season optimism. The SF‑26 continues to demonstrate speed at various points during a race weekend. A recent example came in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the initial runs of Q3, only to start the race from fourth on the grid after the final lap‑by‑lap shootout. That episode underlines the car’s raw pace but also the difficulty Ferrari has in converting that speed into consistent top‑qualifying results.
Now the team is heading to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a circuit where driver confidence and flawless execution are paramount and any mistake is quickly punished by the unforgiving barriers. Vasseur stressed that the Scuderia must bring its A‑game to the city’s demanding layout. "The recent races have shown that our car is capable of delivering a solid level of competitiveness, but they have also highlighted how vital it is to bring every element of the weekend together," Vasseur said. "Baku presents a very specific challenge – confidence in the car and precise execution are essential.
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 scarcity of podium finishes this season has pushed the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought further out of reach. The points gap to the championship leaders has widened dramatically. After Hamilton retired in Madrid with brake issues, he fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time, while Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' Championship. Meanwhile, third‑placed McLaren have outscored the Scuderia in each of the last four rounds, narrowing the gap to just 52 points with nine races remaining.
The pressure on Ferrari to halt the slide is mounting. During an appearance on The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst and former champion Nico Rosberg described Ferrari as being "very close" to the leading pace but repeatedly letting themselves down through poor weekend execution. "Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" Rosberg asked, pointing to a persistent strategic and communication weakness that has haunted the team for years. "Their Achilles' heel remains in the strategy and communication area.
That's always been a weakness and still is now." Rosberg highlighted how the car’s speed is "damn close" to being able to challenge for race wins consistently. He cited the Madrid race, noting that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second had Max Verstappen allowed him through, and would likely have taken second place behind Antonelli without any further incident.
"They're very close. They're just not putting it together properly. They really need to make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing," Rosberg concluded.
The upcoming weekend’s schedule is packed with sessions that will test Ferrari’s ability to improve its performance under pressure. On Wednesday, September 23, the drivers' press conference will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a paddock interview at 2 p.m. Thursday sees a full day of practice and qualifying activity, starting with the F2 practice at 6:55 a.m., then the Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9:30 a.m., and the crucial qualifying session at 1 p.m., accompanied by a team bosses' press conference at noon.
Friday will feature the F2 sprint, the final practice session, and the qualifying shootout that determines the grid for the race on Saturday. The race weekend culminates on Sunday with post‑race analysis and reactions. For fans watching the action, Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the entire weekend live, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix slated for a Saturday midday start.
Subscribers can stream via NOW without a long‑term contract, offering flexibility to cancel at any time. The Scuderia’s performance in Baku will be a decisive indicator of whether they can overcome their strategic shortcomings and re‑ignite their title challenge before the season’s final stretch.