James Key, the technical director of Sauber, is leaving the team.
The teams says that the design and development of the car will be led by the department heads for Aerodynamics, Design, Performance and Operations. This suggests that the decision was not expected and may be related to recent rumours that Sauber is struggling for money.
“A qualified team shares the overall technical responsibility,” says Peter Sauber. “This structure has proved to work well at other racing outfits. Over a period of almost two years, James has accomplished a lot for our team. Especially in the difficult transition period from a manufacturer team into a private enterprise, he contributed significantly to ensure the team regained stability. We would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him all the best for his future.”
Key says that he has enjoyed his time in Switzerland.
“It has been a very intense and interesting time, in which we had to manage the transition from a much larger team to a smaller one, and everybody handled that very well,” he said. “I think the team is now well set for the future and I wish it the very best. I have been offered a new role back in the UK, which I decided to accept.”
The big question is what job was more attractive in Britain than being a technical director in Switzerland. Unless Key really wanted to get out of Switzerland, he is unlikely to have departed without a job with similar status, or better. And where is he going to find that? Marussia might be looking for a new technical director as Pat Symonds is acting as a consultant but cannot come back in any official capacity until 2013. Williams would not appear to have any room with Mike Coughlan as technical director.
How’s about our old friends at Lotus? They need all the help they can get, surely, and have the wedge (for now.)
I agree with Andy – Lotus are a possiblity perhaps.
Unless Mercedes has hoovered him up to become part of Ross’ silver harem…
It’s Mercedes, they have taken everyone else!
Caterham are obviously trying to become a long-term success, so might be of interest to him, but otherwise I have to assume it’s McLaren or Red Bull.
It would have to be in a slightly less prominent role immediately (perhaps director at Toro Rosso, they’ve not done much recently), but as part of long term succession planning?
To Milton Keynes to be an amanuensis to A. Newey? To Woking to fill whatever drop in brain pressure was caused by Pat Fry’s departure?
You wouldn’t think that someone would leave Sauber (which whatever happens will be in the sport in five years in some capacity) in preference for Enstone, Force India, or Marussia (which are anyone’s guess). Unless he had developed an irrational hatred for alphorns, muesli and incessant scenery, I suppose.
I wonder if The Mole has something on this story.
I understand that in Switzerland everything is either forbidden or compulsory. This must weigh upon any creativity.
He probably saw the looks of new Force India car and concluded that the team may have an open position soon …
Back to Silverstone ?
McLaren is my bet, replace some of the lost staff over the winter.
No, it will be Mercedes. They are collecting technical directors!
they’ve got this huge empty trophy cabinet to fill, so they’re having them stuffed and mounted…
A contributory factor might be the rumors that Sauber is short on its 2012 budget. It may be that James realized that there might not be enough money to continue developing the car in 2012. Competitive engineers don’t want to create a good design and then have their hands tied when it comes to improving it.
Come and join caterham would be great to strengthen small team towards midfield team. But as technical director confirm won’t be your! Work together with your former superior, Mike G and Mark smith like in old days at Force india.
A slightly more junior role at McLaren would surely be enough. James Key is a young chap, so could expect to become technical director (or whatever the McLaren equivalent is).
I imagine McLaren know well his skills from his time at Force India while a bunch of McLaren engineers where seconded there.
Merc seem to like collecting technical directors…
It speaks volumes that a team like Sauber, with its great facilities, good personnel and long history cannot get any decent sponsorship (you can’t really count Telmex which is essentially only there to pay for Perez’s sear). Considering the shady characters and suspect financial status and practices of their midfield competitors, it’s a shame they seem to have less potential deals on the table.
If the Mexican’s don’t buy Sauber, who else do you think might Joe?
volkswagen will buy sauber i reckon. A way in for them. As for James Key, I reckon Mclaren need someone, especially with Pat Fry amongst another dozen leaving. However Williams haven’t replaced Patrick Heads role of Director of Engineering
A Pat Fry shaped hole at Macca’s palace. Slot into the team then be groomed for greatness, its the way Ron has set things up. Its that or Newey’s successor, is Red Bull in it for the long term or just to sell horrible drinks that need vodka in them??
Perhaps MacLaren have suitable internal cantidates? They are known to have a good development program of training up engineers.