F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Wolff elevates d'Ambrosio to team boss 'reserve' status

Toto Wolff says Jerome d'Ambrosio who stands next to the Mercedes boss' command post on race weekends is now the Brackley squad's reserve team principal.

D'Ambrosio – a three-time winner in Formula E who competed in F1 with Marussia in 2011– was appointed earlier this year by Mercedes as the team's new director of driver development, working alongside long-standing Mercedes-AMG driver development advisor Gwen Lagrue

The Belgian took over the responsibilities previously entrusted to James Vowles before the latter's move to Williams.

However, d'Ambrosio's perennial presence this season alongside Wolff in the Mercedes garage on race weekends is a clear indication that something bigger is at play for the 37-year-old former races, which Wolff has now confirmed.

"When I am absent on a race weekend, Jerome will replace me," the Austrian told French weekly Auto Hebdo. "It is true that in 11 years it has only happened three times, but it is a situation that we have to anticipate.

"Now, he has to gain credibility within the team and in the paddock, he still has time, but in case I can’t be there, he will be in my place."

D'Ambrosio and the Wolff family are well acquainted as the Belgian worked under the orders of Susie Wolff during his tenure as team principal of the Monaco-based Venturi Formula E squad, for which the Scot was the acting CEO.

"Jérôme did a very good job last year with his role at Venturi, a small structure, which obviously has nothing to do with ours, which still has 2,500 people," added Wolff.

"However, he is involved and I must even say that half of his interventions during the grands prix are sensible.

"I assure you that this is already a remarkable score, James Allison often told me that I said 50 percent intelligent things, and 50 percent nonsense.

"More seriously, you have to give him time, but I have the impression that he has the right profile to take on this role."

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Marko: ‘No chance at all’ for Red Bull in Las Vegas

Helmut Marko believes that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are unlikely to challenge for victory…

7 hours ago

GM revives bid to join F1 with accelerated talks for 2026 entry

Automotive giant General Motors is reportedly back in the game as a potential entrant in…

9 hours ago

Las Vegas GP: Thursday's action in pictures

The opening day of running at the Las Vegas GP was a smooth but chilly…

10 hours ago

Williams' headaches persist into Vegas practice

Williams is continuing to fight uphill battles this weekend in Las Vegas as a knock-on…

11 hours ago

Ferrari's Sainz 'not satisfied with where we are' in Vegas

It was a solid start to the Las Vegas weekend for Ferrari with Carlos Sainz…

12 hours ago

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

13 hours ago