NOVEMBER 23, 2005

Key is named technical director of MF1

The MF1 team has named James Key as its new technical director. The 33-year-old Englishman has been working in motor racing since he graduated from university in 1996, initially joining the Lotus Esprit GT1 programme. He moved to Jordan two years later as a data engineer and then went into race engineering. He spent the 2003 season with the aerodynamic group and then became head of vehicle science and in 2005 took on a new role as technical coordinator.

"Having gone through a transitional period this year, following the team's acquisition by Midland, we are now very busy with the design of next year's car," he said. "I am looking forward to the challenges we face next season and there is a great deal of work to be done. This team has a lot of very good people and, given this new opportunity, I am confident we will progress as the year unfolds."

Midland is keen to gain some credibility in the F1 world after a less-than-convincing first season and the recent string of announcements about the team are designed to indicate a team on the move. The big thing, however, remains whether or not team boss Alex Shnaider can come up the money that is needed to be competitive.