In the world of Formula 1, even the smallest detail can ignite speculation in the paddock and among fans. That’s what happened over the past two weeks at Ferrari, where the trackside presence of Technical Director Loïc Serra at both Imola and Monaco raised some eyebrows.
The engineer typically does not travel regularly with the team on race weekends. His responsibilities are primarily based at Maranello, where he oversees the development of the current car and coordinates the design of next year’s challenger. For this reason, seeing him at two consecutive races—particularly after a season start that fell short of expectations with an SF-24 that has yet to show its full potential—led some to believe it might be a sign of internal urgency.
Jerome D’Ambrosio’s comments
However, Jérôme D’Ambrosio, head of Ferrari’s driver program and Deputy Team Principal, was quick to dismiss the rumors. Speaking in the Monaco paddock, he clarified that Loic Serra’s attendance was part of a pre-planned schedule.
“It’s part of the season’s original plan. There are races he attends and others he doesn’t—the same goes for me,” Jerome D’Ambrosio explained. “We have a schedule set before the year begins. Obviously, what you see at the track is only part of the job, but there’s a lot to do at the factory as well. It’s the same for most technical directors, who travel according to operational needs.”
The explanation appears to be logistical in nature. Imola and Monaco are both easily accessible from Maranello.
“In the morning you can be at the office and in the afternoon at the circuit. Going to Miami means losing more days. It’s an optimization from an operational point of view,” he concluded.
His remarks seem to downplay the more dramatic interpretations. Nonetheless, Loic Serra’s presence still represents a valuable opportunity to more closely align on-track operations with factory development—especially during a critical phase of the season.
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