Four Sauber podiums in 2012: Will James Key bring back the golden years?

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

Now, with an eye on Audi’s future, Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl (47) is bringing Key back to Hinwil. There, where he hired in 2010 as successor to Willy Rampf (69), but never really felt comfortable on the Formula 1 island of Switzerland.

Only two years in Hinwil

He also had other visions and so he went to Toro Rosso in February 2012. But his C31 still brought the team from the Zurich Oberland three podium places from Pérez (Malaysia, Montreal and Monza). In Malaysia, the Mexican would have even won if Ferrari-Todt had not asked his engine partner to let Alonso win!

And at Suzuka, thanks to Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber celebrated Sauber’s last podium finish in Formula 1 on October 7, finishing third behind Vettel and Massa. Thanks to Key’s car.

Verstappen also drove a Key car

Key stayed with Toro Rosso from 2012 to March 2019 and presented a great car to Sainz and Verstappen in 2015. But you failed because of the weak Renault engine.

Then came the offer from McLaren, where he met team boss Andreas Seidl. A double victory in Monza 2021 (Ricciardo ahead of Norris) remained the meager result. When Seidl announced his move to Sauber, it was still a few months before Key was sacked.

Changing of the guard on September 1

Now the two hope they will be happy with Sauber and Audi. Former head of technology Jan Monchaux (45) has to make way for James Key on September 1. The Frenchman was promoted in 2019 from aerodynamics boss to technical director.

Source : Blick