Boullier: “D’Ambrosio deserves a place in F1”

While the transfer market is in full swing with questions surrounding the future of Felipe Massa but especially that of Lewis Hamilton, who is oscillating between McLaren and Mercedes, some managers are trying to secure a seat for their driver for 2013. This is the case for Eric Boullier, who manages the career of the Belgian Jérôme D’Ambrosio through the Gravity company.

The former Virgin – now Marussia – driver had the opportunity to take the wheel of the Lotus E20 during the Italian Grand Prix, following Romain Grosjean’s penalty. With a last-minute entry into the Enstone team’s car, D’Ambrosio didn’t manage to break into the top 10 under the checkered flag, but he certainly impressed the English team.

« I think that if a team had any doubts about him, they now understand how fast, serious, and professional he can be. He deserves a place in Formula 1. He’s been good, all team bosses should look at his pace, » declares Boullier to our colleagues at Autosport.

Parachuted in as a starter without truly understanding his machine, the Belgian driver consistently improved with each outing and ended the weekend by keeping pace with the best. « In the second part of the race, he was clearly keeping up with the cars in front of him. He made no mistakes, was professional, and it was a very good weekend, » added the Frenchman.

Equipped with the softest tires offered by Pirelli at the end of the race, the Belgian indeed recorded the eighth fastest time on Sunday. In Singapore, Romain Grosjean will be back in the Lotus seat alongside Kimi Räikkönen, currently third in the world championship, who can still believe in the world title.

The future of the Belgian will be decided in the coming weeks, or even the coming months.

Interrogated by MotorsInside in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock, he stated that there were options for 2013. Enough to make the fans of the driver from the Brussels region optimistic.