Ferrari confirm Serra and d’Ambrosio hires from Mercedes

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Ferrari has confirmed that it has secured the services of Loic Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio, with both men moving from Mercedes to Maranello where they will bolster the Scuderia’s technical and management teams.

Serra, who previously held the position of performance director at Mercedes, will now take on the role of head of chassis performance engineering at Ferrari.

The highly respected French engineer will begin work later this year on October 1st and will report directly to Ferrari technical director, Enrico Cardile.

Serra's career in F1 began with Michelin. After the tyre manufacturer’s exit from F1 he transitioned to the BMW Sauber team in 2007. Following BMW's withdrawal, Serra moved to Mercedes, where he steadily rose through the ranks, specializing in vehicle dynamics.

His promotion to performance director solidified his reputation as a key figure behind the Silver Arrows outfit’s recent success.

Read also: Horner shrugs off Red Bull staff departures, cites Mercedes exodus

As for d’Ambrosio, the Belgian will be swapping his current role as driver development director at Mercedes for the position of deputy team principal at Ferrari, working alongside team boss Fred Vasseur.

Like Serra, d'Ambrosio will officially begin his new role on October 1st.

The 38-year-old former driver was active in Formula 1 in 2011 and in 2012, when he competed for Marussia Virgin Racing in 2011 and even filled in for a banned Romain Grosjean at Lotus in 2012.

Jerome D'Ambrosio and Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff

After a brief stint in GT racing, d'Ambrosio became a fixture in Formula E's inaugural season, driving for Dragon Racing and then switching to Mahindra for the all-electric series’ 2018-2019 season.

He hung up his helmet at the end of 2019 to become deputy team principal of the Monaco-based Venturi FE squad managed by Susie Wolff, later succeeding the Scot as team principal.

D'Ambrosio officially joined Mercedes in a directorial role in 2023, seemingly positioned to work closely with Toto Wolff and frequently standing post alongside the Austrian in the team’s garage, further fueling speculation about his future leadership role.

Both d’Ambrosio and Serra have collaborated with future Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, and their reunion at the Scuderia will signal a continued working relationship with the seven-time F1 World Champion.

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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.