Alfa Romeo have made a personnel change in the F1 team as James Key will join the outfit as a Technical Director.
Key — who departed McLaren a few weeks ago — will replace Jan Monchaux on the 1st of September at the Hinwil-based team while making his return to the company after his previous stint at the team then called Sauber from 2010-2012.
The British engineer has enjoyed a lengthy F1 career, starting with Jordan as Takuma Sato’s engineer in 1998 where he become F1’s youngest ever technical director in 2005, the final year of Jordan racing in F1.
He was responsible for the Sauber C31 in 2012 which scored four podiums in the hands of Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi. They came agonisingly close to winning in Malaysia during a year when they had a tremendously quick car in races because of low tyre degradation.
The 51-year-old’s appointment was described as a “statement of intent” by the team as they prepare to start life as a works outfit in 2026 with Audi coming onboard.
Key said: “I am delighted to be returning to Hinwil to work with old, and new, colleagues at Sauber; I have very fond memories of my time there before.
“I am looking forward to leading the technical side of the team at one of the most critical junctures of its long history as we head towards a new and exciting future.
“There is a huge amount of work ahead of us, but I am confident that every single member of our team working in Hinwil will have the commitment, determination and hunger to get us to the top.”
Key recognises that climbing the order will be a long process but Alfa Romeo and Sauber have a clear plan of how to develop.
“We know it will require time, effort and perseverance, and the dividends from this work will only arrive over the next two seasons and beyond, but we have a journey ahead of us and a roadmap to follow which I am eager to get started.
“I am grateful to Andreas for the confidence he has placed in me and look forward to repaying his trust and working closely with him on the challenges and ambitions ahead.”
Alfa Romeo have scored eight points so far this season and sit eighth in the Constructors’ championship, level with fellow Ferrari customers Haas.
Sauber Group CEO Seidl added: “I am delighted to welcome James back home to Hinwil as he joins us to shape the future of this team.
“The operation he will find has changed a lot since his time here, but the same drive, the same commitment that contributed to making the team successful in his previous experience are still the same: I am sure that, together with this very talented and committed team, we will be able to continue on the path of growth on which we have embarked.
“James’s appointment is a crucial step on this journey: he has an outstanding amount of experience in the sport, not just as Technical Director, but also in various other roles within the technical organisation of a team.
“He will lead the transformation process of the technical side of the team, giving us the tools and direction we need to tackle the future.
“I also want to thank Jan for his precious contribution to taking Sauber to where it is now, following our most successful season in a decade, in which we climbed to sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship.”
