Scuderia Toro Rosso has announced it has extended the contract of its highly-rated technical director James Key. The 45-year-old joined Toro Rosso from Sauber in September 2012 and has delivered a number of impressive cars since that time. Having finished ninth in the constructors’ championship in 2012, the team improved to eighth the following season and then recorded three consecutive seventh-placed finishes. Currently sitting sixth in this year’s championship, Toro Rosso has moved to secure the Briton on a new contract.
“I am delighted to continue with Toro Rosso and remain part of the Red Bull family,” said Key. “This is a team which I have great respect for and have thoroughly enjoyed working with for the past 5 years; now I look forward to continuing our project into the future.”STR is unique, facing the challenges of being spread over two countries and fulfilling the roles of both a team in its own right and an important part of the Red Bull driver program: they are challenges that the team takes in its stride and, while doing so, continues to grow and improve year on year.
“Most importantly, the people I have had the pleasure to work with at STR are second to none: professional, ambitious and focused, they have all worked incredibly hard to improve the team’s performance and will continue that hard work with the same dedication and optimism in the coming years too. I would like to thank Franz Tost and Red Bull for their continued support and confidence.”We have more work to do, and I look forward to taking the next steps with Toro Rosso toward our goals”
As well as Key’s ability to deliver impressive cars, Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost also praised his work in overseeing the expansion of the team over recent seasons. “Formula 1 is a team sport, but one in which an individual can still make a difference,” Tost said. “So far, in his time with us, James has proved that he can indeed make that difference, leading the technical side of the operation. “Not only has he been adept at producing chassis-aero packages that are well regarded throughout the paddock, he has also shown the management skills necessary to get the most out of all the various departments that work together both here in Faenza and in Bicester. I am therefore delighted that James will be with us for the foreseeable future to continue this fruitful process.”
