Wolff opens up on loss of key Mercedes ally

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has responded to the pending departure of another major ally at his squad.

RacingNews365 revealed earlier this month that Jerome D’Ambrosio will leave Mercedes to join rivals Ferrari.

D’Ambrosio was working with Mercedes on an informal basis before being appointed to the Driver Development Director role in 2023.

He stood in for Wolff at last year’s Japan and Qatar Grands Prix when the Austrian was absent after undergoing knee surgery.

The former F1 driver's exit, however, denotes another key figure heading to Ferrari after the Italian squad managed to lure Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 campaign.

Speaking to media regarding the D'Ambrosio situation, including RacingNews365, Wolff stated: “I think he’s with us at the moment.

“The situation is more for personal reasons, that he’s evaluating the options of what to do.

“I think it’s something he should speak about but all is good. We’ll see where that goes.”

Wolff backs Mercedes to recover

Mercedes has slipped back in the F1 pecking order since the start of the 2022 campaign when new technical regulations came into play.

It has won just a single grand prix in that time as Red Bull has overwhelmingly dominated at the head of the field.

Despite losing some key figures over the last year, including Strategy Director James Vowles and Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliot, Wolff reiterated his confidence that Mercedes will recover to the front of the field.

“It’s a different confidence that I have in the group this time around because, at a certain stage, you’re basically ticking all the boxes of the unknown,” he said.

“Where we are today, it’s pretty clear where it points to. It’s just my feeling that we will come out on top.

“Is this good enough to beat Max in a Red Bull? No, it’s not.

“But at least bringing ourselves back in a position of fighting for podiums and being right there, (I am) 100 per cent sure we’re going to get there.”