Mark Smith was appointed as chief technical director of the Formula One team Force India, replacing James Key.
Key stepped down to pursue “new opportunities” and start his career afresh.
Smith, formerly design director, will assume responsibility for the entire mechanical and aerodynamic design of the team’s challengers.
The decision by the F1 team to restructure its technical department came ahead of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
“We would like to thank James for his commitment and drive over his 12 years with the team. Over this period he has seen four changes of owners, but his consistency and drive have enabled the team to field cars that have often belied our small size. We wish him every success in his future endeavours,” Vijay Mallya, chairman and principal owner of the team said in a statement.
“For Force India, we will now undergo a slight restructure where Mark will take responsibility for the whole design process and various departments within the drawing office and we are confident we will have both the resources and the personnel to continue our strong progress shown at the end of 2009,” Mallya added.
Key has been a long-standing member of the team, first joining Jordan Grand Prix in 1998 as a data engineer before progressing to test engineer and later senior race engineer for Takuma Sato.
In 2003, Key joined the aerodynamic group and was then promoted to head of vehicle science towards the end of that year before becoming technical director in 2005.
“I have spent the majority of my motor racing career within the team and although a difficult decision I felt the time was right for me to move on to new opportunities,” former technical director Key said.
“After four owners and various changes and challenges, to field a car that got a pole position and a podium seemed like a culmination of all the efforts. While I am sad to leave a team I know so well, one which has allowed me to realise many ambitions within F1, I am looking forward to a new start.
“The VJM03 is now up and running and early indications are good, I wish Force India all the very best for the next and coming seasons,” Key added.
Smith was one of the first Jordan employees who progressed through the team’s ranks to become joint chief designer. After 11 years with Jordan, Mark joined Renault Formula 1 as chief designer before joining Red Bull Racing in 2005, initially as deputy technical director and then technical director. Mark rejoined Force India in November 2007.
