Ferrari gears up for 2026 with D’Ambrosio at the helm and a new exit on the horizon
The 2025 Formula 1 season, now in its eighteenth round, is slowly drawing to a close, having already delivered clear and unmistakable verdicts. There is little left to say beyond what has already unfolded. McLaren has effectively secured the Constructors’ Championship, leaving only the Drivers’ Championship—contested between the two McLaren drivers and possible outsider Max Verstappen—and the fight for second place in the Constructors’ standings, with Ferrari and Mercedes battling it out and a late charge from Red Bull still a possibility. Focusing on Ferrari, however, the Scuderia seems to have already closed the chapter on what has been a deeply disappointing year, despite ongoing efforts to recover second place in the Constructors’ Championship, and is looking firmly toward 2026.
Intense work behind the scenes
In Maranello, preparations for the next season are in full swing, as is the case for all F1 teams. Development of the new Ferrari 678 is reaching its peak, with countless simulator runs for both the main and reserve drivers, testing of the new power unit on the dyno in pursuit of both horsepower and reliability, and engineers making final mechanical and aerodynamic decisions. The Scuderia has become a true hive of activity, where every team member must perform at their best. More than ever, there is a need for a central figure to coordinate between departments, streamline decision-making, and ensure the team follows a unified strategy, maximizing opportunities under the new regulations to finally return to victory after years of frustration.
Jerome D’Ambrosio takes the lead
For this reason, Ferrari’s deputy team principal, Jerome D’Ambrosio, has been absent from the pit wall at races for some time. Strongly supported by team principal Fred Vasseur, the Belgian has remained in Maranello to work directly at the factory, managing operations and making crucial medium-term decisions on behalf of Fred Vasseur. According to Paolo Ciccarone from “RMC Motori,” D’Ambrosio will only return to the pit wall for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi. During this intense period of planning and decision-making, the deputy team principal is also expected to select a new reserve driver, as multiple sources indicate that Guanyu Zhou could be leaving Ferrari at the end of the year.
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