Ferrari Urged to Add Upgrades After Baku Pace Drop, Leclerc Says
NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 28, 2026
Leclerc demands upgrades
Charles Leclerc said Ferrari needs upgrades after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix if it wants to close the gap at the front. The Monegasque driver said Ferrari was “quite far off” Mercedes and Red Bull in Baku and slightly behind McLaren. Ferrari brought no changes to its car for the race, while McLaren and Red Bull introduced significant updates, and Leclerc said both teams made a step forward. He said Ferrari lacked raw speed in Azerbaijan and was too slow in a straight line to defend properly. Leclerc also said Ferrari’s Monza engine update has not closed the power gap. Leclerc made clear that the team must respond quickly if it wants to keep second in the Constructors’ Championship. The message was plain: Ferrari needs development now.
Vasseur sees problems
Fred Vasseur matched Leclerc’s concern and said Ferrari will introduce improvements as soon as possible. The team principal said Ferrari’s previous chassis advantage may no longer exist. Vasseur said Ferrari maximized its result on a track where straight-line performance was a problem, and he also pointed to tire preparation as an issue in Baku. Teams are beginning to shift focus toward next year’s regulations, adding to the pressure on current development. Vasseur’s comments suggested Ferrari sees problems in more than one area. Straight-line speed and tire preparation were issues for Ferrari in Baku.
Ferrari leaves Baku
Ferrari left Baku with points from both cars. Leclerc finished fourth after Oscar Piastri’s mistake and Kimi Antonelli’s troubles helped him, while Lewis Hamilton came home sixth after struggling with his tires all weekend. Hamilton’s difficult run added to the evidence of Ferrari’s problems at the circuit. For now, Baku showed that Ferrari could score while still failing to match the leaders on pace.
