Key and Allison named in engineers silly season

Reports have emerged in Germany claiming that Toro Rosso technical director James Key will be moving to Williams from 2018, while ex-Ferrari technical boss James Allison is being courted by Red Bull in an effort to have him join their engineering team headed by Adrian Newey.

Auto Motor und Sport report that Key is being lined up by Williams to replace Pat Symonds, who is reportedly considering retirement, from the end of the 2017 season.

Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko acknowledged that Key could move, "He is with our Red Bull B team until the end of 2017, when his contract expires he may well be hired by another team."

Allison, whose 'gardening leave' from Ferrari ends in April 2017, is one of the most respected technical gurus in the sport, his services would be welcomed by numerous Formula 1 teams with Red Bull apparently head of the list of options for the Englishman who departed Ferrari earlier this year.

The report also reveals that Renault are recruiting junior level technical staff, luring a number of Force India personnel to the team.