Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underlined the necessity of flawless weekend execution after the Scuderia endured a string of disappointing results in recent outings. The Italian outfit, which celebrated a victory at the British Grand Prix in early July – its second win in three races – has seen its championship ambitions wane.
Since that triumph, Charles Leclerc’s second‑place finish in Belgium remains the only podium the team has secured across the last five rounds, a stark contrast to the early‑season optimism. Despite the SF‑26 still showing flashes of speed at various points during a race weekend – most notably in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole in the opening laps of Q3 only to start the race from fourth – the car has not consistently translated that pace into results. As the squad prepares for the tight, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Vasseur stresses that the margins are razor‑thin and any mistake will be heavily penalised.
"The recent races have proven that the car can be genuinely competitive, but they have also highlighted how critical it is to bring every element of the weekend together," Vasseur said in a pre‑race briefing. "Baku presents a very particular challenge; confidence in the machinery and precise execution are paramount.
The circuit can throw a number of variables at us, so we must stay focused on our own performance, 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 appear increasingly remote. In the drivers' standings, Lewis Hamilton slipped more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli after retiring in Madrid with brake issues, while the Scuderia now trails Mercedes by 145 points in the Constructors' Championship. McLaren, occupying third place, has outscored Ferrari in each of the last four events and has narrowed the gap to just 52 points with nine rounds remaining. On the recent episode of The F1 Show podcast, former champion Nico Rosberg offered his perspective, describing Ferrari as being "consistently 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 a long‑standing weakness in strategy and communication. "Their Achilles' heel remains in the strategic area and the way information is relayed. That has always been a frailty and it still is today." Rosberg continued, noting that the car’s speed is "damn close" to challenging for race victories. He cited the Madrid race as an example, saying that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second had Max Verstappen allowed him through, and that a podium finish behind Kimi Antonelli would have been well within reach.
"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 former world champion concluded. The upcoming Baku weekend is packed with sessions that will test the Scuderia’s ability to deliver under pressure.
The schedule includes practice, qualifying, and the race itself, alongside supporting Formula 2 events. Key moments are: - Wednesday, September 23 – Drivers’ press conference at 11:00 am, followed by the Paddock Uncut at 2:00 pm. - Thursday, September 24 – F2 practice at 6:55 am, Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9:30 am, F2 qualifying at 10:55 am, Team Bosses’ press conference at noon, Practice Two at 1:00 pm, and The F1 Show at 2:15 pm.
- Friday, September 25 – F2 Sprint at 5:10 am, Practice Three at 9:30 am, F2 Feature Race 1 at 11:10 am, Qualifying build‑up at 12:30 pm, and the official Azerbaijan GP qualifying at 1:00 pm, followed by Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 3:00 pm. - Saturday, September 26 – F2 Feature Race 2 at 7:55 am, Grand Prix build‑up at 10:30 am, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself at noon, post‑race reaction at 2:00 pm, and Ted’s Notebook at 3:00 pm. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional streaming available via NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. For Ferrari, the Baku race represents a crucial juncture.
The team must harness the evident speed of the SF‑26, iron out strategic missteps, and improve internal communication to convert potential into points. Success in Azerbaijan could reignite their title chase and restore confidence after a period of inconsistency. Conversely, another sub‑par weekend would widen the gap to Mercedes and McLaren, making the remaining races an uphill battle. The Scuderia’s ability to learn from past errors and execute flawlessly on the streets of Baku will be the ultimate test of Vasseur’s leadership and the crew’s resilience as the season enters its decisive phase.