Jerome d'Ambrosio: "It's important to set boundaries because Charles and Lewis are among the greatest drivers ever"
Today at 03:57 AM
Winning requires more than just a fast car; it also takes a lot of work off-track to efficiently manage a structure with over a thousand people. Frederic Vasseur understands this well, and since his arrival at Ferrari, he has not only strengthened the technical organization but also the sporting structure to make the team even more competitive.
One of the novelties for 2025 is Jerome d'Ambrosio, the Deputy Team Principal, who arrived from Mercedes alongside another major technical figure, Loic Serra. Both joined Ferrari in late 2024 and have begun integrating into the team, with 2025 marking their first full season with the Scuderia.
However, the two have very different backgrounds. While Serra has taken on the role of technical director, d'Ambrosio will be primarily involved on the sporting side, serving as Fred Vasseur's deputy.
D'Ambrosio brings to Ferrari a dual experience in motorsport, both as a driver and as a team manager. Although his official stint in Formula 1 lasted only a year with Marussia in 2011, he worked extensively as a test driver for other teams before racing in different categories.
After six seasons as a driver in Formula E, the Belgian became Deputy Team Principal of Venturi in the same series, working alongside Susie Wolff before taking full charge at the end of 2021. Following this experience in electric racing, Jerome d'Ambrosio moved to Mercedes to work alongside Toto Wolff, where he gained insight into the workings of a top team and collaborated with Lewis Hamilton, whom he will now reunite with at Ferrari.
Jerome D’Ambrosio can also support the drivers
After a challenging year at Mercedes, the seven-time world champion described the start of his Ferrari adventure with one word: "reinvigorated." D'Ambrosio also noticed this, emphasizing that Hamilton is truly happy in this "honeymoon phase" with the Scuderia.
"What matters is how things are going now, and I'd say very well. Lewis is really happy to be part of the team and extremely motivated by this challenge. We can't wait for Bahrain, where things will get serious. I see someone who is extremely happy to be here and who shook hands with 1,500 people on his first day. He really wanted to introduce himself to everyone," the Deputy Team Principal told Automoto.it.
"One thing that helped him is having his own entourage, his management. Since I already knew them from my previous role, I knew what to expect and what needed to be adapted to the new environment."
A valuable aspect of Jerome d'Ambrosio's presence is his previous experience as a driver, which allows him to provide a different perspective on the sensations and emotions of those behind the wheel compared to a purely technical figure. He highlighted this himself, though with humility, acknowledging that he is working with two of the best drivers on the grid.
"For me, it's easy to empathize with the drivers because I know what they feel. I understand the dynamics between drivers and the team, what happens in the car, and much more. But it's important to set boundaries because Charles and Lewis are among the greatest drivers ever. They don't need anyone to teach them how to race." – he added.
Complementary role with Fred Vasseur, but he won't attend all races
Jerome D'Ambrosio's role is effectively complementary to Fred Vasseur's, assisting him in most races but not always being present at the track. In some instances, he will serve as Vasseur's right-hand man from the factory.
For example, the Belgian has already revealed that he will not attend the Chinese Grand Prix to avoid leaving the factory understaffed for too long, as the Chinese round is the second leg of a doubleheader far from Italy, followed by the Japanese Grand Prix and then races in the Middle East. The exact plan for the rest of the season is still undecided, as it will depend on how the 2026 project evolves.
Being Ferrari's Team Principal means overseeing many different aspects, and one of Jerome d'Ambrosio's tasks is to relieve Fred Vasseur of some responsibilities so he can focus on others: "Vasseur and I are complementary; we divide tasks. There is no strict division of responsibilities. I can handle engineering matters, financial issues, or human resources topics." – the Belgian pointed out.
"We work this way because our offices are right across from each other. We talk at least twenty times a day, and we don't feel the need to change anything because everything works perfectly. Before I arrived, Fred was overloaded with work, and I support him in every way possible." – he concluded.
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