Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has underscored the need for flawless execution over a race weekend after a string of disappointing outcomes in recent Grand Prix 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 waned. Charles Leclerc’s second‑place 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 competitive pace at various points throughout a race weekend – most recently in Madrid, where Lewis Hamilton posted a provisional pole position during the early stages of Q3 only to start the race from fourth on the grid – the team has struggled to translate speed into consistent results.
Heading into the narrow, wall‑lined streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where driver confidence is paramount and any slip can be severely punished, Vasseur insists that Ferrari must bring their A‑game. "The past few events have shown that our car is capable of delivering a strong level of performance, but they have also highlighted how crucial it is to piece together every element of the weekend correctly," Vasseur said.
"Baku presents a very specific set of challenges, where belief in the machinery and flawless execution are especially vital. The circuit can throw a number of variables at us, so we need to stay focused on our own work, adapt to any situation that arises, and squeeze the maximum out of every opportunity." Ferrari's recent scarcity of podium finishes has pushed the team’s aspirations of ending an 18‑year world‑title drought further out of reach this season. Lead driver Lewis Hamilton fell more than 100 points behind Kimi Antonelli for the first time after a brake‑related retirement in Madrid, while Ferrari now trail Mercedes by 145 points in the constructors' standings.
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. On the latest episode of The F1 Show podcast, Sky Sports F1 analyst Nico Rosberg observed that Ferrari are consistently "very close" to the front‑running 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 today." Rosberg went on to point out that the car's speed is "damn close" to being able to challenge for race victories on a regular basis. He cited the Madrid event as an example, noting that Hamilton would have comfortably finished second had he not retired, especially after Max Verstappen let him through.
"They’re very close. They’re just not putting it together properly, and they really need to make progress in that area.
That’s the main problem they’re facing," Rosberg concluded. The upcoming Baku weekend is packed with sessions: a drivers' press conference on Wednesday morning, followed by a paddock interview in the afternoon; Thursday will feature Formula 2 practice, the Azerbaijan GP practice session, and the team bosses' press conference; Friday brings the F2 sprint, the final practice for the Grand Prix, and qualifying; and Saturday culminates with the F2 feature race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself, and post‑race analysis. All events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage available via the NOW streaming platform.
For Ferrari, the stakes are high. The Baku street circuit is notorious for its high‑speed straights, tight corners, and unforgiving barriers, demanding absolute precision from both drivers and engineers. Any strategic misstep – whether in tyre selection, pit‑stop timing, or race‑start procedures – can instantly erase any advantage gained on the track. Vasseur’s call for tighter coordination and clearer communication reflects a recognition that the team’s technical package, while strong, cannot succeed without flawless operational execution.
If Ferrari can harness the latent speed of the SF-26, avoid the strategic blunders that have plagued them, and capitalize on the opportunities presented by Baku’s unique layout, they could halt the slide and re‑ignite their title chase. Conversely, another sub‑par weekend would deepen the gulf to Mercedes and McLaren, making the remaining races an uphill battle. The next few days will therefore be a litmus test for the Scuderia’s ability to translate potential into performance under pressure, and a chance for Vasseur and his crew to demonstrate whether they can finally close the gap that has kept them from the top step of the podium for nearly two decades.