INFO AUTOweekly. James Key leaves Toro Rosso for McLaren

Rumors circulated in the Hungaroring (Hungary) paddock this Thursday morning, but CARhebdo is able to confirm this to you: James Key appointed technical director within the team McLaren, in place of Matt Morris, who resigned.

Aged 46, James Key had made his mark in the sister team of Red Bull with six years of activity as technical director. The British engineer has previously experienced other mid-grid formations. He started in Formula 1 at Jordan Grand Prix in 1998 as data engineer, then race engineer for Takuma Sato. After remaining under the various names (Midland, Spyker and Force India), James Key replaced Willy Rampf as technical director at Sauber in 2010.

This change comes at a time of great change for the English team. Beginning of July, Frenchman Éric Boullier left his post as sports director after seven and a half years of service, to leave the seat to former CART champion Gil de Ferran. The entire organization chart has evolved in recent weeks, with modifications in the areas of production, engineering, logistics or performance.

The results of McLaren, still stuck in the middle of the pack despite its switch to engine Renault in the offseason (7th with 48 points), were the cause of this important overhaul initiated by Zak Brown, the managing director of McLaren. This replacement is the most recent proof of this.