Formula One team Ferrari may be facing a significant shake-up in its technical structure, with Italian daily Corriere dello Sport reporting that veteran performance engineer Jock Clear is poised to leave the Scuderia by the end of the 2025 season.
Clear, 61, has been with Ferrari since 2014 and currently serves as chief performance engineer, as well as a driver coach to Charles Leclerc. He also plays a pivotal role in the Ferrari Driver Academy, where he has overseen the development of talents such as Oliver Bearman and Dino Beganovic.
If the report proves accurate, his departure would mark the end of over a decade of service in Maranello, leaving a notable void as Ferrari continues to fight Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Moreover lewis Hamilton would be losing an ally who since the driver’s arrival in Maranello, has stood firmly in his corner.
Clear worked with F1’s best
Clear’s F1 journey has seen him work for some of the sport’s most successful outfits. Prior to Ferrari, he worked at Benetton, Williams, Honda, Brawn GP and Mercedes, earning distinction as race engineer to Jacques Villeneuve during his 1997 championship-winning campaign with Williams.
He later collaborated with world champions Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes before heading to Maranello. Whilst ‘Bono’ with his ‘hamertime’ phrase became the most famous of Lewis’ race engineers, Clear was a key figure in guiding him to his first Mercedes’ title in 2014 serving as the performance engineer for #44.
Whilst the record books show Hamilton winning the 2014 drivers’ championship with 384 points to his team mates 317, it was the year F1 decided to award double points for the final round of the year. Prior to the race in Abu Dhabi it was possible both drivers could claim the F1 crown, although an electrical issue for Rosberg saw him lose the lead of the race and finish down in P14.
Jock demands Ferrari listen to Hamilton
Jock Clear left Brackley ahead of 2015 to take up a senior engineering role at Ferrari and has since become the senior performance engineer and also works as driver coach to Charles Leclerc.
With Hamilton claiming Mercedes car designs since 2022 had placed the driver too far forward in the car, Clear was reportedly influential behind the scenes in ensuring Ferrari accommodated this request prior to the British driver arriving in Maranello.
Unfortunately this appears to have cramped the space available at the rear of the car, leading to issues with the SF-25’s suspension and ride height problems. Many believe the Ferrari executives signed Hamilton to shake up the team in Michael Schumacher type fashion. The sleeping F1 giant has failed to win a championship since 2008.
Mercedes revelations on Hamilton’s departure
No word from Ferrari over Clear’s departure
Yet the impression the Italian media persistently portrays of Ferrari is one where certain engineers ‘know best’ and the culture is intransigent. According to Ferrari grandee, Arturo Merzario, “90% of engineers” were not in favour of the team signing Hamilton once the announcement had been made.
Jock Clear’s departure has not been formally admitted by Maranello, but it must be of concern that such a senior engineer who has backed Hamilton is leaving the organisation. Fred Vasseur was brought in to change the way Ferrari operates, his quiet and reasonable demeanour stands in stark contrast the the stereotypical Italian hyperbolic style of communication.
With his vast experience of F1 across four decades, Clear was a key individual in Vasseur’s programme for change. His departure leaves both Hamilton and Vasseur exposed to those engineers who are calling the shots in Maranello.
Marc Gene to lead Ferrari academy
Should Clear depart, Corriere dello Sport suggests Marc Gené — long-time Ferrari ambassador and former test driver — is poised to take over leadership of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Gené, 51, raced in 36 Formula One grands prix for Minardi and Williams between 1999–2000 and 2003–2004 before joining Ferrari as a test driver from 2005 to 2010. He went on to claim victory at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans with Peugeot, cementing a versatile racing career.
As a visible Ferrari ambassador in the paddock, Gené already represents the Scuderia at public events and within media circles, and his deep ties to the team would make him a natural successor to oversee the academy programme.
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More instability in Maranello
If the report is true, Ferrari is about to lose a figure whose CV reads like a guided tour of modern Formula One history. Jock Clear has worked with Villeneuve, Schumacher, Rosberg, Hamilton and Leclerc — which means he has spent a career trying to keep world champions out of the gravel. At Ferrari, that may have been the toughest assignment yet.
Clear’s departure would also highlight Ferrari’s peculiar knack for change just when stability is most needed. As the team prepares for 2026’s sweeping regulations, losing one of its longest-serving and most respected technical voices could leave them scrabbling for solutions again.
Marc Gené, meanwhile, would be a popular choice with the tifosi. A Le Mans winner, a former Ferrari test driver, and a familiar face in the paddock, he has the credentials. Whether his transition from ambassador to academy boss signals continuity or another layer of Ferrari musical chairs is a question for later. For now, the prospect of losing Clear will also be felt keenly by Leclerc, who has relied on him as a coach and sounding board.
Hamilton closest he’s been to Leclerc
Ferrari’s latest upgrade which came in Spa appears to finally have given Hamilton the confidence and feel in the car he requires. As the team honed the new suspension setup in Zadnvoort, Lewis was as close to Leclerc as he’s been all season.
Whilst he was beaten again by his team mate in qualifying at last weeks Dutch Grand Prix, the gap to his team mate had been reduced to 50 milliseconds. Unfortunately for Hamilton he will take a five place grid drop from wherever he qualifies in Monza this weekend, given he ignored yellow flags on the way to the grid last weekend.
The form of the McLaren drivers and Lewis’ penalty means a fairy tale win for Hamilton at Ferrari’s home race, is probably a story which will have to written another year.
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As it turned out, matters were to be swiftly resolved with Andretti’s Colton Herta – with 16 pole positions and 9 wins in Indycar – making the remarkable decision to pursue his Formula One career by moving to Europe and racing in F2.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
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