Ferrari endured a difficult start to the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, with Fred Vasseur admitting that the SF-26 struggled for balance and tyre performance during Thursday’s two practice sessions in Baku. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were unable to match the benchmark pace, leaving the Maranello team with significant work to complete before qualifying.
There is no sense of alarm inside Ferrari, however. The opening practice sessions are designed to identify where the car can be improved before the most important parts of the weekend, and Thursday’s running gave the engineers several areas to investigate. Ferrari had already encountered a narrow SF-26 setup window during Baku FP2, with balance improving in some conditions but outright performance remaining difficult to unlock.
Fred Vasseur says Ferrari struggled with balance and tyres in Baku
Fred Vasseur provided Ferrari’s assessment after practice and acknowledged that the team had experienced difficulties both with the balance of the SF-26 and with extracting consistent performance from the tyres. The two Ferrari cars finished approximately 1.1 and 1.3 seconds away from the benchmark Mercedes of George Russell.
“It was a strange situation because we were very up and down… I think this morning went well. This afternoon, however, we were very inconsistent from one lap to another. I think it is quite difficult to find the right position, the best tow,” Fred Vasseur explained.
The Ferrari team principal added that tyre behaviour had also complicated the picture, although Ferrari was not alone in encountering difficulties during the session.
“We also struggled a little with the tyres, and I think it happened to the others as well. Max Verstappen also had some difficulties. I think it is a challenge where the performance parameters are also making bigger steps than they would at a normal circuit. If you have 10 kilos more fuel, you lose five tenths, but we will see tomorrow. For sure, today we are not very happy with the balance. We have a lot of work to do for tomorrow.”
Baku’s unusual characteristics make finding the correct compromise particularly important. The combination of slow corners, long acceleration zones and the extended main straight also places a premium on energy management, an area already highlighted by Ferrari’s Baku power unit and Straight Mode challenge.
Fred Vasseur expects a one-stop race if Baku stays calm
The Baku City Circuit can offer overtaking opportunities, but race strategy could also become an important factor. Fred Vasseur believes the number of pit stops is likely to depend more on what happens on track than on any predetermined strategic requirement.
“One stop and that’s it in the race? In Baku, you never know. There can be a big surprise. I remember the first year in Baku when we all expected complete chaos and nothing happened. The second year was the opposite.”
Fred Vasseur nevertheless expects a conventional strategy if the race develops without interruptions or unexpected incidents.
“For sure, if nothing happens, I think it will be a one-stop race because it is not that easy to overtake.”
That uncertainty means Ferrari’s work on tyre preparation and balance during practice could become especially significant once the race settles into longer stints. Further analysis of the SF-26’s behaviour and technical development throughout the weekend is available in the Ferrari technical analysis section.
Charles Leclerc engine penalty decision remains under wraps
Another major talking point in the Baku paddock concerns Charles Leclerc’s power unit allocation. The question is whether the Monegasque driver will introduce another engine after his recent problems or continue using the units already available in his rotation, therefore avoiding a grid penalty.
Fred Vasseur indicated that Ferrari has already reached a clear decision on the matter, but the team principal chose not to reveal the plan publicly.
“On the possible grid penalty for Charles Leclerc with an engine change, I have a clear idea, but I will keep it to myself. In any case, here we have the engine that we introduced at Monza. The specification is that one.”
Ferrari therefore heads into the next stage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend with two different areas to manage. The immediate priority is improving the SF-26’s balance and tyre behaviour after an inconsistent Thursday, while the team’s decision over Charles Leclerc’s power unit could also have an important influence on how the remainder of the Baku weekend develops.
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