Key to replace Rampf at Sauber

James Key is to become the new technical director at Sauber as Willy Rampf is to step down at the end of April after 10 years in the role.

The 38-year-old from Warwick, who has worked for the last 12 years at Jordan, Midland, Spyker and Force India, will take up his post with Switzerland-based Sauber from April 1.

Force India have already replaced Key with Mark Smith, who has stepped up from his previous position as design director.

"The first time I saw the facilities in Hinwil, I knew straightaway the kind of opportunities open to me there," Key said. "The wind tunnel, the supercomputer, the machine park and the expertise of the team were extremely persuasive.

"There is significant potential at Sauber, and with the ever-changing world of F1 I think the team is very well placed at present.

"I am grateful to my old team for the past 12 years I spent with them, but now I very much look forward to starting my new job. I would like to thank Peter Sauber and the team for this great opportunity."

Boss Sauber welcomed Key to the team and says he fully understands Rampf's decision.

"Despite his young age, James looks back on more than a decade of experience in Formula One - and the 2009 car in particular proved quite a revelation," he said.

"James comes from a private team and knows how to work around a limited budget. With us he will enjoy high-level technical opportunities. Willy and James will be devoting April to the handover. I have known about Willy's plans for some time, of course and fully understand his decision.

"He has achieved great things for our team. I had managed to get him on board as race engineer for season 1994. Then in 1998 he temporarily left the team to pursue his Paris-Dakar Rallye dream and ran BMW's motorcycle involvement - a successful interlude, as we know. In 1999 he returned to the fold with the clear aim of becoming Technical Director.

" It was practically his first Formula One car that was out on the grid in 2001, and we finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship as a privately-run team. We have Willy to thank for a great deal."

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