Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of delivering flawless weekends 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 Scuderia's momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has noticeably waned.
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 speed at various points during a race weekend – most recently in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole in the early part of Q3 only to start fourth on the grid – the team has struggled to translate that pace into consistent results. As the calendar turns to the narrow, wall‑flanked streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver confidence is essential and any error is swiftly punished, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game.
"The past few events have proved that our car can be genuinely competitive, but they have also highlighted how critical it is to piece together every element of the weekend," Vasseur said. "Baku presents a very particular challenge – confidence in the machinery and flawless execution are paramount.
The circuit can throw a multitude of variables at us, so we must stay focused on our own performance, adapt to any situation that arises, and seize every opportunity that presents itself." Ferrari’s recent scarcity of podiums has pushed the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought further out of reach this season. Lead driver Charles Leclerc now trails the championship leader by more than 100 points after a retirement in Madrid caused by brake failure, while the Scuderia sits 145 points behind Mercedes 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 latest episode of The F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg commented 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.
"Their Achilles' heel remains strategy and communication – areas that have historically been weak and continue to be a problem today. The car’s speed is almost, almost, enough to challenge for race wins, but they fail to put the pieces together." Rosberg pointed to the Madrid race as a case in point.
He noted that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second had he not been forced to retire, and that Max Verstappen had even yielded a position to him. "Lewis would have been on the podium behind Kimi quite easily," Rosberg argued, emphasizing that the performance gap is minimal. "Ferrari are on the cusp.
They just aren’t assembling the weekend correctly, and they need to make progress in that area. That is the core issue they face." Looking ahead, the schedule for the Azerbaijan weekend is packed.
On Wednesday, September 23, drivers will gather for a press conference at 11 am, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 2 pm. Thursday sees a full day of sessions, beginning with F2 practice at 6:55 am, the first Formula 1 practice at 9:30 am, and F2 qualifying later in the morning. The team bosses' press conference is slated for noon, with a second practice session starting at 1 pm and the F1 Show airing at 2:15 pm.
Friday, September 25, includes the F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 9:30 am, and the F2 feature race at 11:10 am. Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP will take place at 1 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3 pm. Saturday’s lineup features the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, the Grand Prix start at 10:30 am, and the race itself at midday. Post‑race analysis, including a chequered‑flag reaction and another episode of Ted’s Notebook, will be broadcast in the afternoon.
All of these events will also be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marking the continuation of the 2026 Formula 1 season on Sky Sports F1. Fans can watch the action via NOW, with a flexible, cancel‑anytime subscription and no long‑term contract required. As the Scuderia seeks to rectify its strategic shortcomings and convert its near‑misses into tangible results, the Baku street circuit will serve as a crucial litmus test for whether Ferrari can finally align speed, strategy, and execution to reignite their title aspirations.