Jasper van Schaick joins Scuderia Ferrari to reunite with Lewis Hamilton
Jasper van Schaick has joined Scuderia Ferrari as a chassis vehicle system specialist following eight years at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. The appointment reunites the engineer with Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari seeks to close a power deficit ahead of the 2027 season.
A technical reunion in Maranello
Jasper van Schaick joined Scuderia Ferrari this month as a chassis vehicle system specialist. He previously spent almost eight years at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains after joining the outfit in 2018. His time with the Silver Arrows coincided with Hamilton’s championship wins in 2018, 2019, and 2020, as well as the driver becoming the most successful in history regarding race victories. Hamilton moved to Ferrari from Mercedes last season, so this appointment reunites the pair. Van Schaick’s LinkedIn announcement indicates that his move followed a last-minute change of plans. "I am really happy and grateful to share that I have started at Scuderia Ferrari. Time to push for a world championship again with the team. I’ll try my best," he said. Van Schaick worked as a mechanical engineer at HPP from 2018 to 2024, where he designed numerous power unit systems and collaborated with the chassis department to ensure low friction, high performance, and reliable installation before he became a concept engineer in September 2024.
Ferrari struggles to close the gap
Ferrari currently trails Mercedes by 144 points in the Constructors’ standings. Hamilton sits third in the Drivers’ standings with 229 points, 111 points behind Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen holds an eight-point lead over Hamilton after securing wins in Malaysia and Singapore. Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari at the Barcelona Grand Prix this season, but he told Sky Sports that while Ferrari have built a "fundamentally great car," the team "have to catch up" with their power deficit for 2027. This follows a difficult season last year where Hamilton failed to score a podium.
| Standing Detail | Data |
|---|---|
| Ferrari Constructors Points | 444 |
| Constructors gap to Mercedes | 144 |
| Hamilton Drivers Points | 229 |
| Hamilton gap to Antonelli | 111 |
Ferrari plans to bring a fourth upgrade package to Austin this weekend to target the floor, sidepods, bodywork, and front wing components. The Scuderia holds an 11-point buffer over third-placed McLaren in the Constructors’ standings, while McLaren sits seven points clear of Red Bull. Charles Leclerc noted that the team still lacks performance despite receiving two updates this year. I view this hire as a necessary move to address the power unit gap before the 2027 season.
