Key leaves Force India tech chief post
Date published : 23 Feb 2010 - 19:11:42
Force India technical James Key has left his post at the team and will be succeeded by design director Mark Smith, the Silverstone-based squad announced on Tuesday.
The team says Key has left to pursue new opportunities after five years as technical director and will be replaced immediately by Smith, who will assume responsibility for the entire mechanical and aerodynamic design of its cars.
Key, who originally joined the squad during its Jordan days as a data engineer in 1998, admits it had been a difficult decision to leave his long-time home but felt that the success it achieved last season, when it claimed a pole and second place finish at Spa, marked a good time after which to leave.
I have spent the majority of my motor racing career within the team and although a difficult decision I felt the time was right for me to move on to new opportunities, he said in a statement.
After four owners and various changes and challenges, to field a car that got a pole position and a podium seemed like a culmination of all the efforts.
While I'm sad to leave a team I know so well, one which has allowed me to realise many ambitions within F1, I'm looking forward to a new start.
The VJM03 is now up and running and early indications are good, I wish Force India all the very best for the next and coming seasons."
Team principal Vijay Mallya paid tribute to Key's work at the squad, a contribution which he feels has enabled it to punch above its weight over the years.
We would like to thank James for his commitment and drive over his 12 years with the team, Mallya said.
Over this period he has seen four changes of owners, but his consistency and drive have enabled the team to field cars that have often belied our small size.
We wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Mallya expressed confidence that the team will be able to continue the progress up the grid it made last season under Smith's technical leadership.
For Force India, we will now undergo a slight restructure where Mark will take responsibility for the whole design process and various departments within the drawing office and we are confident we will have both the resources and the personnel to continue our strong progress shown at the end of 2009, he added.
Smith was one of the first Jordan employees when the squad was founded in 1991 and after rising through the ranks to become its chief designer returned to the team under Force India ownership in late 2007 following stints at both Renault and Red Bull.
