Vasseur and D’Ambrosio: a Dynamic and Interchangeable Duo at Ferrari
Both Loïc Serra and Jérôme D’Ambrosio joined Scuderia Ferrari after their time at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. They became fully operational in their new roles starting from October last year. Although Serra has received more media attention—having taken on the high-profile position of Technical Director—D’Ambrosio holds a critical operational role within the team as well. In fact, he serves as the effective deputy to Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur.
A notable example of D’Ambrosio’s increasing responsibility came during the Austrian Grand Prix. When Frederic Vasseur had to leave the Red Bull Ring due to personal matters, it was Jérôme D’Ambrosio who took over the reins of the Maranello-based team on race day. Under his supervision, the Scuderia delivered a solid result, with both Ferrari drivers finishing in third and fourth place behind the dominant McLaren duo.
The former Formula 1 driver from Belgium explained why he did not hesitate for a moment when the opportunity to join Ferrari presented itself. Speaking in an interview with the French motorsport publication Auto Hebdo, D’Ambrosio said that the combination of Ferrari, Italy, and Frederic Vasseur was simply irresistible. He explained that, just like a racing car setup is not defined by a single parameter, a career decision of this magnitude also cannot be reduced to one factor. In his words, it was an opportunity that he simply could not allow to slip through his fingers, calling Ferrari a truly legendary institution in the world of motorsport.
He went on to compare his previous position at Mercedes with his current role at Ferrari. While at Mercedes, his job had a more “hybrid” nature, without clearly defined boundaries. In contrast, his responsibilities at Ferrari are far more structured and clearly delineated. Frederic Vasseur remains the overall team leader, but given the wide scope of a modern Team Principal’s duties—which include driver management, budget oversight, communications strategy, and resource allocation—many of these responsibilities are now shared between the two.
Jérôme D’Ambrosio emphasized the scale of today’s Formula 1 operations, noting that over the past 15 years, teams have grown exponentially in size, with some now employing over a thousand staff members. With 24 races on the calendar in a single season, the workload is incomparable to what it used to be in the early 2000s. As a result, the collaboration between Vasseur and D’Ambrosio is based on constant communication and seamless cooperation. The Belgian revealed that if the two are not in the same office at the same time, they speak over the phone five times a day. He added that there are no “exclusive” areas of responsibility; rather, their tasks are dynamically distributed based on who is available and what is happening at any given moment.
The upcoming Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps carries special significance for Jérôme D’Ambrosio. The race, which takes place just a short drive from his home country, is a kind of home event for the Belgian and will be his first at Spa in official Ferrari colors. It also marks the debut of Ferrari’s new rear suspension—a major technical upgrade and the first structural intervention credited to Technical Director Loïc Serra.
So far in the 2025 Formula 1 season, Scuderia Ferrari has not yet celebrated a race victory. However, judging by D’Ambrosio’s enthusiasm and deep pride in being part of the iconic Italian team, he would likely be among the first to celebrate should Ferrari secure a long-awaited win. And who knows—it could very well happen this weekend in the Ardennes.
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