Jerome D’Ambrosio explains work carried out by Ferrari in Maranello ahead of Melbourne. Jerome D’Ambrosio on Ferrari's preparations for the Australian GP.

Chasing McLaren?
After the three days of testing in Bahrain, the general consensus is that McLaren is the team to beat, at least at the start of the season. However, there are many uncertainties, from the conditions in which the tests took place to the specific characteristics of each circuit, which may suit one team better than another, all the way to the “Verstappen factor,” capable of turning a struggling Red Bull into a podium- and race-winning car.

Ferrari, after its first days on track with the SF-25, has chosen to keep a low profile, aware that it needs to fully understand its project before making any assessments about its competitiveness. The feeling is that the car has very interesting potential, but finding the best balance will be crucial.

Jerome D’Ambrosio’s analysis
Since last October, Jerome D’Ambrosio has been Ferrari’s vice team principal—as well as head of the Maranello Academy—and was naturally present alongside Frédéric Vasseur during the test days in Sakhir. “We can expect a competitive championship,” he told Gaetan Vigneron of Belgium’s RTBF, adding, “Drawing conclusions from three days of testing is difficult because everyone follows their own programs, and the wind and rain didn’t help. We will see in Melbourne.”

The former Marussia driver then explained the work being carried out in Maranello, focusing on the in-depth analysis of the data collected: “We return to the factory and try to analyze all the opportunities we have to improve the car. We want to arrive in Melbourne with a deeper understanding of this Ferrari. So far, our work has been hard and consistent,” Jerome D’Ambrosio emphasized.

He also commented on his role as Fred Vasseur’s right-hand man: “We work in a special way—he is the team boss, but I assist him in everything, from performance to driver issues, factory matters, human resources, and finances. I will attend around 18 Grands Prix, but we will ensure that one of us is always at the factory in preparation for 2026, which is a great challenge,” Jerome D’Ambrosio concluded.