Lotus picks d'Ambrosio for Monza

Jerome d'Ambrosio

Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio will contest this weekend's Italian grand prix in the place of Romain Grosjean.

There was speculation Lotus might overlook its official reserve driver for the Monza seat, after team regular Grosjean was given a one-race ban by the FIA for causing the spectacular first-lap crash at Spa last Sunday.

Rubens Barrichello, Jaime Alguersuari and Adrian Sutil were speculatively linked with the one-off cockpit, but it now emerges that 2011 Virgin driver d'Ambrosio, 26, will race the competitive black and gold E20.

"We know that Jerome is well integrated into the team and that he did a good job when he drove the E20 at the Mugello test," said team boss Eric Boullier.

"Now he has the challenge of a grand prix at the challenging circuit of Monza, in a car which is capable of finishing on the podium."

D'Ambrosio said: "I will hand the wheel back to Romain after Sunday's race and I hope that this one showing in Italy will allow me to show my capabilities fully."

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