Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the necessity of delivering flawless weekends after a series of disappointing outcomes in recent events. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second triumph in three races – the Scuderia’s momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships has waned. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium, recorded just before the summer hiatus, stands as the only podium the team has secured across the last five rounds.
Despite the SF‑26 still showing flashes of competitiveness at various points throughout a race weekend – most notably in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the initial Q3 runs only to start the race from fourth – Ferrari has struggled to translate speed into results. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku presents a new test where driver confidence and flawless execution are paramount, and any error is swiftly penalised. "The recent races have proved that our car possesses a solid level of pace, but they have also highlighted how crucial it is to piece together every element of the weekend," Vasseur explained. "Baku is a very specific challenge, where confidence in the car and execution are particularly important.
It is also a circuit where the weekend can throw up several variables, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to whatever situations arise and make the most of every opportunity." Ferrari’s dwindling podium tally has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title 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. McLaren, currently third, have outscored Ferrari in each of the last four rounds and have narrowed the gap to just 52 points with nine races remaining.
During an appearance on The F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg observed that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the leading pace but repeatedly falter in the execution of race weekends. "Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" the 2016 world champion asked. "Their Achilles' heel remains in strategy and communication – areas that have always been a weakness and continue to be so now. 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're just not putting it together properly, and they need to make progress on that.
That's the main problem they're facing." The schedule for the Azerbaijan weekend is packed. On Wednesday, September 23, the drivers' press conference will take place at 11 a.m., followed by the paddock uncut at 2 p.m. Thursday sees F2 practice at 6.55 a.m., the first F1 practice session at 9 a.m.
(starting at 9.30 a.m.), and qualifying sessions for both F2 and F1 later in the day, along with a team bosses' press conference at noon. Friday's agenda includes the F2 sprint, the third F1 practice, the F2 feature race, and the crucial F1 qualifying, which will determine the grid for the main event. Saturday features the second F2 feature race and the Grand Prix itself, scheduled for midday. Sunday will host the post‑race analysis, including the chequered‑flag reaction and Ted's notebook commentary.
All sessions will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, and fans can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract, canceling at any time. The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver high‑octane action, and the Baku street circuit, with its long straights and tight corners, will test Ferrari's ability to convert raw speed into points. Vasseur’s message is clear: the team must tighten its strategic decisions, improve communication across the pit wall, and ensure that every driver gets the best possible start and racecraft to capitalize on the SF‑26’s inherent speed. Only by doing so can Ferrari hope to close the gap to Mercedes and McLaren and revive their championship aspirations.