Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underlined the necessity for flawless execution across an entire race weekend after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent events. 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 dwindled.
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 demonstrating competitiveness at various points throughout a race weekend – most recently in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the early Q3 runs only to start the race from fourth on the grid – the team has struggled to translate that speed into consistent results. As the calendar now turns to the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a venue where driver confidence and precision are paramount and any mistake is swiftly punished, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game. "The recent races have shown that our car is capable of delivering a solid level of performance, but they have also highlighted how crucial it is to piece together every element of the weekend," Vasseur said.
"Baku presents a very specific challenge, where belief in the car and flawless execution are especially vital. It is also a circuit that can throw a number of variables at us, 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.
Lead driver Charles Leclerc now finds himself more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli after the latter’s dominant performance in Madrid, while Ferrari trails Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' standings. 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 recent episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst and former champion Nico Rosberg observed that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the front‑running pace but that their weekend execution continues to let them down.
"Isn't it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?" Rosberg asked, pointing to a recurring strategic and communication weakness that has plagued the team for years. "Their Achilles' heel remains in strategy and communication – that's always been a vulnerability and it still is today. The car's pace is almost there – it's damn close to being able to challenge for consistent race wins.
Even in Madrid, let's not forget, 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 really need to make progress on that. That's the main problem they're facing." Looking ahead, the schedule for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with sessions that will test Ferrari's ability to improve their execution. On Wednesday, September 23, the drivers' press conference will take place at 11 am, followed by the paddock uncut at 2 pm. Thursday sees an early F2 practice at 6:55 am, followed by Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying, and the team bosses' press conference at noon.
Practice Two begins at 1 pm, with The F1 Show airing at 2:15 pm. Friday's agenda includes the F2 sprint, Practice Three, the F2 feature race, and the crucial qualifying session for the Grand Prix, which starts at 1 pm. Saturday culminates with the F2 feature race, the Grand Prix build‑up, the race itself at midday, and post‑race analysis throughout the afternoon. For fans, the race will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW – a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
The Baku circuit, renowned for its high‑speed straights and tight, unforgiving corners, offers a unique blend of technical challenge and raw speed. Success here often hinges on a team's ability to nail tyre strategy, manage brake temperatures, and maintain clear communication between pit wall and driver. Ferrari's recent struggles in these areas have been highlighted by Rosberg and other analysts, making the upcoming weekend a critical test of whether the Scuderia can finally align its strong car performance with the strategic precision required to convert pace into podiums. In summary, Vasseur's message to his team is clear: the SF‑26 has the speed, but without disciplined execution, strategic clarity, and flawless communication, that speed will remain unfulfilled potential.
Baku offers a chance to reset the narrative, but only if Ferrari can learn from past mistakes, adapt quickly to the circuit's demands, and seize every opportunity that arises on the narrow streets of Azerbaijan. The eyes of the F1 world will be on the Scuderia as they strive to turn near‑misses into tangible results and keep their long‑awaited championship hopes alive.