Ferrari faces leadership shake-up ahead of Austrian Grand Prix
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur Absent From Austrian Grand Prix
In a surprising turn of events, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur will be absent from Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix due to "personal reasons." The announcement came early Sunday morning, with the Italian squad confirming that deputy team principal Jérôme d'Ambrosio will step in to lead operations for the race.
Ferrari enters the Grand Prix in high spirits, having delivered their best combined qualifying performance of the season. Charles Leclerc secured a spot on the front row of the grid, starting second alongside McLaren's Lando Norris, while teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. will kick off from fourth position.
Vasseur’s Impact and Absence
Vasseur, who joined Ferrari in 2022, has been pivotal to the team's revival efforts, including the high-profile move to bring Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari earlier this year. His absence marks a noteworthy moment for the Scuderia, as the team faces a critical race weekend amid growing competition in the Constructors' Championship.
Jérôme d'Ambrosio Steps Up
Stepping up in Vasseur's place is Jérôme d'Ambrosio, a seasoned racer turned executive. The Belgian competed in 20 Formula 1 races during his tenure with Virgin Racing and Team Lotus in 2011 and 2012. Since then, d’Ambrosio has transitioned into management roles, most notably serving as Mercedes' driver development director before joining Ferrari as deputy team principal in 2024.
Ferrari’s High-Stakes Race Weekend
Ferrari will look to capitalize on their strong qualifying positions, but the absence of Vasseur raises questions about how the team's leadership dynamic will influence their performance on race day. With both Leclerc and Sainz poised for strong results, the Scuderia can't afford any missteps as they aim to challenge Red Bull and McLaren for supremacy in Austria.
As fans tune in for the high-stakes battle at the Red Bull Ring, all eyes will be on Ferrari—and on d'Ambrosio—as he steps into the limelight in one of Formula 1's most high-pressure environments.
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