Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur will miss this Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix due to personal reasons with his deputy Jerome d’Ambrosio taking charge as Charles Leclerc lines up in second
Ferrari will have a new face calling the shots at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix with Jerome d’Ambrosio stepping up to replace Fred Vasseur. D’Ambrosio serves as the deputy team principal but will be the man in the hot seat at the Red Bull Ring.
Vasseur would usually oversee race days but the Italian team have put out a statement explaining that he will not be present in Spielberg. A team statement read: “Fred will not be at the track today, because he has had to return home for personal reasons. Deputy Team Principal, Jerome d’Ambrosio will stand in for him.”
The 39-year-old Belgian previously raced in Formula 1 for the likes of Lotus back in 2011 and 2012. He’s since retired and has become a senior figure within Ferrari. As well as his current role he is also the head of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Now he will be tasked with masterminding the team’s first race win of the season. Other that their sprint victory in China several months ago the Italian team have not taken the top step of the podium but will have Charles Leclerc lining up in second with Lewis Hamilton back in fourth.
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It gives them the opportunity to fight with the two McLarens. Lando Norris in on pole position with championship leader Oscar Piastri back in third. Ferrari are currently third in the teams’ standings, behind McLaren and Mercedes.
Hamilton has, so far, struggled to adapt to his new team. He’s yet to stand on the podium on a Sunday with a fourth at Imola his best result so far. Leclerc has been more competitive, finishing third twice and second at his home race in Monaco, and he’s confident about their prospects after making some positive changes in Austria.
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He said: “I’m very pleased. It’s been a long time since we started on the front row. It’s been a difficult season overall but the team have kept pushing. We’ve brought some new parts this weekend, which for sure made a difference because the gaps are super close.
“I’m very happy with the lap. It’s a good start to the weekend. We know that we have a better car normally in the race than qualifying, so I hope we can put a bit more pressure on McLaren tomorrow.”
Hamilton meanwhile was full of praise for the team as he said: I think it’s been the best day operationally, particularly through qualifying. Just timings, the information we’re getting in terms of traffic and positioning on track, I think was really the best and proper world-class.”