Toto Wolff faces another challenge as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix looms, with Gioacchino Vino parting ways with Mercedes.
The week prior saw Ferrari securing Jerome d’Ambrosio and Loic Serra from the Silver Arrows, further shaking things up in the F1 world.
Vino, who joined Mercedes back in February 2018 as principal aerodynamicist and later rose to chief aerodynamicist in October 2022, bids farewell after a brief stint in the role. Wolff confirmed Vino’s departure following FP1 at the Emilia Romagna GP, marking a tumultuous period for Mercedes.
Jerome d’Ambrosio, formerly in charge of driver development, now assumes the role of Ferrari’s deputy team principal, while Serra, Mercedes’ performance director, transitions to the Italian team’s technical department.
Speaking of the new appointments, Vasseur shared insights into his strategy: “Jerome isn’t stepping into anyone’s shoes; he brings added value. We’re redefining roles dynamically. His wealth of experience in motorsport, from management to driving, will be invaluable.”
Vasseur humorously added: “As for Loic, he was probably there before Lewis, or so it seems! On a serious note, team dynamics involve turnover. People come and go, it’s part of the game. We shouldn’t take it personally, but it’s always a challenge.”
Wolff, undoubtedly frustrated by recent departures, grapples with the repercussions of Mercedes’ performance slump. Christian Horner even alluded to this in a recent exchange, highlighting Red Bull’s acquisition of 220 personnel from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, emphasizing a more substantial loss than a few individuals.
