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D'Ambrosio seat not at risk

ESPNF1 Staff
May 27, 2011 « Hamilton accuses Toro Rossos of blocking him | »
Jerome d'Ambrosio's best result this season is 14th in Australia © Sutton Images
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Virgin team principal John Booth has said that Jerome d'Ambrosio's seat with the team is secure until the end of the season.

D'Ambrosio has made a solid if unspectacular start to his Formula One career since replacing Lucas di Grassi over the winter. With sponsorship important to Virgin, there were reports that D'Ambrosio was going to lose his seat as his sponsors were delaying on payments, but Booth has said that the situation was under control.

"Everything is fine with him," Booth told the Sheffield Star. "You can never say never because you can end up looking a fool, but, as things stand now, I can't envisage anything changing with Jerome until the end of the season."

As a result of the uncertainty, there had been speculation as to d'Ambrosio's potential replacement. Robert Wickens was one of those in the frame, and Booth admitted he was part of Virgin's development program but not yet ready for a Formula One drive.

"He (Wickens) is in our young driver stable but we certainly don't plan on putting him in a F1 car yet. Robert is concentrating on his Renault series. He is doing a good job in that. We will then take it from there."

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