Wolff hints at future Mercedes replacement

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has revealed Jerome D’Ambrosio will take over his role at races where he is not present.

D'Ambrosio has 20 Formula 1 race starts to his name having tackled the 2011 season with Marussia before having a one-off outing with Lotus at the 2012 Italian Grand Prix.

The Belgian raced in Formula E before working in a Team Principal capacity at Venturi in the all-electric World Championship.

Since the start of the current F1 campaign, D’Ambrosio has been working at Mercedes in the role of Driver Development Director.

And should Wolff be unable to attend a race weekend, it will be the Belgian that will stand in for him.

“When I am absent on a race weekend, Jerome will replace me,” Wolff told Belgian media.

“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.”

Wolff backs D’Ambrosio for F1 managerial success

Having worked alongside each other for half a season, Wolff heaped praise on D’Ambrosio and insisted he has the potential to lead the team in the future.

“Jerome 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.

“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 things I said were 50 per cent intelligent and 50 per cent 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.”