Lewis Hamilton has made the move to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, but he wasn’t the only high-profile departure from Mercedes to join the Maranello team as they enter the next chapter of their F1 journey.
At 40 years old, the British driver ended his long and successful run with Mercedes after facing two of his most difficult seasons. For the first time in his career, the seven-time world champion failed to win a Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023. His 2023 season ended with his lowest ever points finish, in seventh place, a significant downturn for a driver accustomed to being at the forefront of the championship fight. By the time he signed with Ferrari in February 2024, Lewis Hamilton was coming off his worst-ever F1 season, cementing his decision to leave Mercedes after years of dominance that saw him capture six of his seven titles.
In addition to Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, Ferrari also made a strategic move by bringing Loic Serra, a key technical figure from Mercedes, on board. Serra, who had originally agreed to join Ferrari as head of chassis performance, was later promoted to chassis technical director following the departure of Enrico Cardile, who joined Aston Martin. Similarly, Jerome d’Ambrosio, another former Mercedes staffer, took on the role of deputy team principal at Ferrari under Fred Vasseur. Both Loic Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio started their positions in October, signaling Ferrari’s intent to strengthen their technical team ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.
Serra wasted no time in making his impact, particularly on the SF-25, focusing on optimizing how Ferrari’s car interacts with the Pirelli tyres for the upcoming season. In his early observations, Serra quickly noticed key differences between Mercedes and Ferrari, highlighting the “talent and motivation” of Ferrari’s staff. He was struck by the passion and drive within the team and felt that Ferrari had the essential elements needed to continue evolving and improving. The French engineer expressed his excitement about joining the Maranello team, stating that he felt fortunate to be part of Ferrari’s ambitious Formula 1 project.
Loic Serra explained that his role at the Italian side is an evolution of the position he held at Mercedes, although it differs in certain aspects. He mentioned feeling fortunate to be surrounded by highly talented and experienced individuals across all areas of the team, noting that they provide him with significant support. Reflecting on his initial months at Maranello, Serra observed some differences, particularly now that he holds the position of technical director. He highlighted that what stands out at Ferrari is the talent and motivation within the team, which he believes are crucial elements for continuous improvement.
Lewis Hamilton will undoubtedly be encouraged by Loic Serra’s positive impressions of Ferrari, especially considering their successful history together at Mercedes. Serra, who joined Mercedes in 2010, played a crucial role in supporting Hamilton’s achievements during their time together. As a French mechanical engineering graduate, Serra’s technical expertise significantly contributed to Hamilton’s success, having been a key figure in the team’s engineering department.
Serra initially served as Mercedes’ chief vehicle engineer from 2010 to 2013, later advancing to head of vehicle dynamics in 2013 and eventually becoming performance director in 2018. His leadership and engineering skills were instrumental in Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1 from 2014 to 2020, particularly after the introduction of the 1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid power units. Under Serra’s guidance, Hamilton secured six world titles, with his only challenges coming from teammate Nico Rosberg in 2016 and Max Verstappen from Red Bull in 2021.
Given his extensive experience and the success he helped the British driver achieve at Mercedes, Loic Serra’s optimistic view of Ferrari’s potential will likely resonate with Hamilton. Having seen the Scuderia’s positive signs early on in his tenure, Hamilton will be eager to help Ferrari leverage its resources effectively, with hopes of continuing his legacy in a new environment at Maranello.
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