Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underlined the necessity for the Scuderia to execute each race weekend more flawlessly after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent Grands Prix. Since clinching victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – their second win in three races – Ferrari'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 the team has secured across the last five events. Despite the SF-26 still showing flashes of competitiveness at various points during a race weekend, the car has yet to translate that speed into consistent results.
A recent illustration of this came at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position after the opening runs of Q3, only to see his starting slot slip to fourth on the grid by the final classification. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, staged on the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku, will test the team’s ability to maintain focus under pressure, as the circuit notoriously punishes even minor errors.
"The past few races have demonstrated that our car can deliver a respectable level of performance, but they have also highlighted how crucial it is to piece together every element of the weekend," Vasseur explained. "Baku presents a very particular challenge where confidence in the machinery and flawless execution are paramount. The circuit can throw a number of variables at us, so we must stay concentrated on our own performance, adapt to any situation that arises, and seize every opportunity that presents itself." Ferrari's recent scarcity of podium finishes has made the prospect of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought appear increasingly remote. The team now trails Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' standings, while lead driver Lewis Hamilton has fallen more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli after retiring from the Spanish race with brake issues.
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 in the season. On the Sky Sports F1 podcast "The F1 Show," former world champion Nico Rosberg offered his perspective, describing Ferrari as being "very close" to the front‑running pace but repeatedly faltering in the execution of race weekends. "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 the car's speed is "damn close" to being able to challenge for wins consistently, but that strategic missteps continue to undermine their efforts.
Rosberg cited the Spanish Grand Prix as a recent example, recalling that Hamilton would have likely finished second had Max Verstappen allowed him through, and that he could have comfortably beaten Kimi Antonelli. "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 champion concluded. Looking ahead to the Baku weekend, the schedule is packed with activities for both Formula 1 and Formula 2.
On Wednesday, September 23, a drivers' press conference is slated for 11 am, followed by a paddock‑uncut session at 2 pm. Thursday, September 24, begins with an early‑morning F2 practice at 6:55 am, then the Azerbaijan GP practice session at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, and a team‑bosses press conference at noon. A second practice session starts at 1 pm, and the F1 Show airs at 2:15 pm. Friday, September 25, features an F2 sprint at 5:10 am, the third practice for the Grand Prix at 9:30 am, and the F2 feature race at 11:10 am.
Qualifying for the Azerbaijan GP is scheduled for 1 pm, with a pre‑qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm and a dedicated segment called "Ted's Qualifying Notebook" at 3 pm. Saturday, September 26, sees the second F2 feature race at 7:55 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am.
The main event – the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – kicks off at noon, with the chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction at 2 pm, and another edition of "Ted's Notebook" at 3 pm. All live coverage will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event.
The 2026 Formula 1 calendar continues to deliver back‑to‑back action, and the Baku race marks the start of a triple‑header weekend for Sky Sports F1 viewers. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility of no long‑term contract and the ability to cancel at any time. As the Scuderia heads into one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, the pressure will be on Vasseur, his engineers, and the drivers to transform raw speed into tangible results, and to finally break the long‑standing title drought that has haunted Ferrari for nearly two decades.