McLaren reveals start date for James Key

©ToroRosso

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McLaren and Toro Rosso have reached an agreement to settle the position of the Woking team's new technical director James Key.

The British engineer who had been working at Toro Rosso since 2012 will begin working for McLaren on March 25 2019.

Along with McLaren's new managing director Andreas Seidl, Key will spearhead the team's efforts to restore its former lustre according to a long-term plan devised by chief executive Zak Brown.

McLaren: Seidl solely focused on F1 and moving team forward

As a reminder, Key began in Formula 1 with Jordan Grand Prix in 1998, spending several years as a data engineer and then as race engineer to Takuma Sato.

Upon the team's takeover by MF1 Racing, Key was promoted at the age of 33 to the role of technical director in 2005, a position he retained when the Silverstone-based squad transitioned from Spyker to Force India.

In 2010, Key joined Sauber for a spell that lasted almost two years before moving to Toro Rosso.

The Faenza-based outfit has announced that Jody Eggington - another former Jordan Grand Prix graduate - will replace Key as Toro Rosso's technical director, also beginning his duties on March 25 2019.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.