Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has repeatedly warned that the Scuderia must tighten up its weekend execution after a string of disappointing results in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – the second win in three races – the Italian outfit has seen its championship hopes dwindle. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium proved to be the only podium the team has managed in the five rounds leading up to the summer hiatus, underscoring a worrying slide in form. The underlying issue is not a lack of speed.
The SF‑26 has continued to demonstrate competitive pace at various points throughout a race weekend, most notably in Madrid where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the opening runs of Q3, only to end the session fourth on the grid. This pattern of flashes of speed followed by sub‑optimal results has become a recurring theme for Ferrari. Now the squad heads to the tight, 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.
Vasseur stressed that the team must bring their A‑game to the narrow, high‑speed track. "The recent races have shown that the car is capable of delivering a solid level of performance," Vasseur said, "but they have also highlighted how vital it is to piece together every element of the weekend correctly. Baku presents a very specific challenge – confidence in the machinery and flawless execution are especially crucial." He added, "The street circuit can throw a number of variables at us, so we need to stay focused on our own work, adapt to whatever situations arise, and extract the maximum from every opportunity." Ferrari's dwindling podium tally has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought look increasingly remote this season. After Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli following a brake‑related retirement in Madrid, Ferrari now find themselves 145 points adrift of Mercedes 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. On the F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg echoed the sentiment that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the front‑running pace but are let down by their weekend execution.
"Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" Rosberg asked, pointing to strategy and communication as the team's Achilles' heel. He noted that while the car's speed is "damn close" to challenging for race wins, the team’s inability to convert that speed into results remains a major obstacle.
Rosberg illustrated his point with the recent Madrid race, saying that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second had the team’s strategy allowed it, especially after Max Verstappen let him through. "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," the former world champion concluded. The upcoming weekend’s schedule is packed.
On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference will be held at 11 am, followed by a paddock uncut session at 2 pm. Thursday sees F2 practice at 6.55 am, the first Azerbaijan GP practice session at 9 am (officially starting at 9.30 am), and F2 qualifying at 10.55 am. A team bosses' press conference is slated for noon, with the second practice session beginning at 12.30 pm (official start at 1 pm).
The F1 Show will air at 2.15 pm. Friday’s agenda includes the F2 sprint at 5.10 am, the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 9.15 am (starting at 9.30 am), and the F2 feature race at 11.10 am. Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP will take place at 12.30 pm, with the official qualifying session commencing at 1 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3 pm. Saturday’s schedule features the second F2 feature race at 7.55 am, the Grand Prix start at 10.30 am, and the main race itself at noon.
Post‑race analysis, including a chequered‑flag reaction and Ted’s Notebook, will run in the early afternoon. All sessions marked with an asterisk will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to be streamed live on Sky Sports F1, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix kicking off a triple‑header of races and the Baku event taking place on Saturday at midday. Viewers can stream Sky Sports via NOW with no long‑term contract and the option to cancel at any time.
For Ferrari, the Baku race represents a crucial test of whether they can translate the evident speed of the SF‑26 into consistent, race‑winning performances. The team must address strategic missteps, improve intra‑team communication, and ensure that every driver and engineer is aligned to extract the maximum from the car on a circuit that rewards precision above all else. The outcome in Azerbaijan could very well dictate the trajectory of Ferrari’s title challenge for the remainder of the season.