The Ferrari team boss, Fred Vasseur, made another calculated move with the recent transfer to Ferrari. Jerome D’Ambrosio, confirmed by RacingNews365, is on the verge of embarking on a major career change by transitioning from Mercedes to Ferrari. This development marks a significant shift in D’Ambrosio’s professional journey as he has played crucial roles in the automotive industry. Initially seen in the Mercedes pits early last year, D’Ambrosio’s involvement with the team quickly evolved from an informal commitment to a more defined position as director of driver development, which he secured 12 months ago. In this capacity, D’Ambrosio took on the responsibility of nurturing talents within the Mercedes young driver program and overseeing their progress in various international series.
D’Ambrosio, a 38-year-old Belgian with previous Formula 1 experience, having raced for Marussia Virgin Racing in 2011 and made a guest appearance for Lotus in 2012, was also considered a potential future candidate for the team principal role at Mercedes, potentially succeeding Toto Wolff. Before joining Ferrari, D’Ambrosio held the position of deputy team principal at Venturi Racing during the 2020-21 season, later assuming full leadership the following year after transitioning from his role as a Formula E driver after six seasons. During his time at Mercedes, D’Ambrosio frequently collaborated with Wolff, especially during race weekends.
Halfway through the season, Wolff revealed that D’Ambrosio would act as team principal in his absence during races, a responsibility that D’Ambrosio took on at the Japanese and Qatari Grands Prix after Wolff’s knee surgery. This recent move to Ferrari is another strategic acquisition by team principal Fred Vasseur, who previously made headlines by securing seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton for the team in 2025, alongside Charles Leclerc. Vasseur’s successful effort to bring D’Ambrosio to Ferrari represents a significant loss for Mercedes and Wolff, although specific details about D’Ambrosio’s start date and role at Ferrari have not been disclosed.
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