McLaren confirms James Key's Toro Rosso switch
McLaren has announced James Key will become its new technical director on March 25 after reaching an agreement with Toro Rosso.
The British team revealed it had captured the signature of Key last July only to be refuted by Toro Rosso bosses who said the deal hadn’t been confirmed which triggered lengthy negotiations over the technical chief’s contract.
McLaren has announced James Key will become its new technical director on March 25 after reaching an agreement with Toro Rosso.
The British team revealed it had captured the signature of Key last July only to be refuted by Toro Rosso bosses who said the deal hadn’t been confirmed which triggered lengthy negotiations over the technical chief’s contract.
Key, who has not been present at Toro Rosso’s trackside operations since the negotiations began, will officially join the Woking-based team on March 25, one week after the 2019 Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, after being released from his current contract at the Italian squad early on March 23.
In a coordinated statement from both teams, it was also confirmed Jody Egginton will be promoted to become Toro Rosso’s new technical director on the same day.
The signing of Key is thought to complete McLaren’s senior management restructuring following the departure of Tim Goss as chief technical officer and Matt Morris as chief engineer.
Earlier this month McLaren confirmed ex-Porsche LMP1 boss Andreas Seidl will start his new role as managing director of its F1 operations on May 1. Seidl will report to McLaren CEO Zak Brown and work alongside sporting director Gil de Ferran who replaced Eric Boullier in the McLaren fold last July.
McLaren are currently completing a filming day at Circuit de Catalunya after finishing the opening pre-season test yesterday and will return to testing action next week in Barcelona with the rest of the F1 teams.
