D’Ambrosio’s future to be decided within 10 days

Jérôme d’Ambrosio is still in the running to continue his Formula 1 driving career in 2012 even though he was not retained by the Marussia team with whom he raced in 2011. Benjamin Mignot, who manages his career at the Gravity company, told the Belgian press that for the moment things haven’t changed much even though d’Ambrosio has sufficient financial backing in principle.

«Nothing, or almost nothing, changed during the holidays. The situation remained the same as on Christmas Eve, meaning we have a reasonable and significant budget to have Jérôme race in GP,» Benjamin Mignot told the Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure.

Mignot also revealed that the only driver he truly feared was Adrian Sutil, who still doesn’t have a seat for 2012. He therefore believes that d’Ambrosio does not have the strength to face the competition from other drivers such as Barrichello, Liuzzi, Chandhok, Karthikeyan, Heidfeld, Van der Garde, and Alguersuari.

« Without talking about money, we only really fear the competition from Adrian Sutil, who had a great 2011 season and also deserves to find a seat. All the others don’t scare us. Jérôme has no reason to be embarrassed compared to other names who have already had their chance in more prestigious teams. »

Mignot believes that the situation should soon become clear because the teams will need to prepare their drivers for the first winter tests, which will take place in Jerez at the beginning of February—in less than a month. He is confident about his protégé’s chances.

The situation will now become clearer very quickly. A decision will normally be made within ten days because the winter tests begin on February 7 in Jerez. We are not talked about much in the foreign press, and that’s just as well. But I can guarantee that we are still in the race; the doors remain open. Our chances have not diminished …, added Mignot.

The two options for Jérôme d’Ambrosio to be a main driver in F1 in 2012 are the Williams F1 team and the Hispania Racing Team. He could join the Spanish team because Jacky Eeckelaert, responsible for the development of the new car, would like to work with him even though he won’t be the final decision-maker.

« This is still being negotiated (to know who will drive alongside Pedro de la Rosa). I’m not in the loop. But I spoke about Jérôme D’Ambrosio with Sala (the director of the HRT team). I told him all the good things I think about him. He clearly deserves a second chance. I would like to work with him, but unfortunately, it’s not up to me to decide … ,» Eeckelaert told La Dernière Heure.

The Belgian engineer also believes that d’Ambrosio could match the profile sought by the Spanish team because, according to him, there is little chance of seeing another Spanish driver join HRT. He also thinks it is unlikely that the team will field a second driver at the end of their career alongside Pedro de la Rosa.

I don’t believe it’s in the team’s interest or intention to line up a second Spaniard. Nor another driver at the end of his career. As for Liuzzi, he hasn’t really proven himself. The Italian has already had several chances. He does have a 2012 contract, but it would be void as it was signed with the former boss Carabante. We are rather looking for a young driver with ambitions as a second driver, added the Belgian.