Matt Morris joins McLaren from Sauber

AUTOSPORT reported on Thursday that Morris has handed in his notice at his current outfit, and he will officially relinquish his role on Monday.

Morris will be switching to McLaren when he is released from his contract at Sauber, and will work under its technical director Tim Goss.

A McLaren spokesperson said: "Matt Morris will join McLaren Racing as engineering director once his current contractual situation with Sauber is resolved.

"Matt will work for our technical director, Tim Goss, to ensure our engineering standards and technical decision-making capabilities are of the highest quality.

"During a period of intense technical challenge within Formula 1, Matt's appointment is the first step in an ongoing programme to strengthen the engineering department as our organisation prepares for the arrival of Honda in 2015."

McLaren sporting director Sam Michael believes Morris's arrival is a boost to the team's engineering strength.

He expects Morris to have a significant input into the development of the McLaren-Honda partnership, although the 2014 car will also be part of his remit.

"It is good news, especially with the amount of work we have now with all the regulation changes but also with the Honda project," said Michael.

"He will definitely help us add to that engineering strength.

"I'm looking forward to him joining. I worked with him at Williams, where he was head of transmissions, so he will fit in very well with [technical director] Tim [Goss].

Michael was unable to confirm when Morris would be taking up his new post with McLaren.