London ¨C Aston Martin said Adrian Newey remains team principal of the struggling Formula One team as media speculation ramped up on Thursday that he was set to be replaced by Audi¡¯s Jonathan Wheatley.

Motorsport.com reported the acclaimed designer would stand aside ?to focus on technical matters, with Wheatley returning to Britain from Audi¡¯s factory ?in Switzerland.

¡°The ?team will not be engaging in media speculation about its ?senior leadership team,¡± Aston Martin said in a statement. ¡°Adrian Newey continues to lead the team as Team Principal and Managing Technical Partner.¡±

Audi said it was aware of the ?media reports.

¡°There is no official update from our side at this point in time and we ?do not comment on speculation,¡± a team spokesman said.

Silverstone, England-based Aston Martin has?yet to score a point or finish either of the two ?grands prix this season, with its ?new Honda power unit lacking performance and producing heavy vibrations.

Two-time?world champion Fernando Alonso retired from last Sunday¡¯s Chinese ?Grand Prix after saying ?he was losing feeling in his hands and feet.

On ?board footage from the race in Shanghai showed Alonso taking his hands ?off the ?steering wheel whenever possible to ease the pain.

The team is owned by Canadian Lawrence Stroll, whose son Lance races as Alonso¡¯s teammate. Aston Martin finished seventh last season with Mercedes engines.

Newey took over as team principal this season with ?previous leader, Andy Cowell, a former Mercedes engine boss, moving into a strategy role.

Newey, whose cars have won 14 drivers¡¯ and 12 constructors¡¯ titles for three different teams, joined Aston Martin from Red Bull last year as a shareholder with the?task?of?building a winning ?car.

The ?softly spoken Newey, 67, had worked closely with former team boss Christian ?Horner and Dutch four-time?world champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but his promotion ?as Aston Martin¡¯s principal came as a surprise.

Wheatley, who also worked with Newey at Red Bull and was sporting director when he left, joined Audi¡¯s predecessor, Sauber, in April last year.

Any further move would likely involve a long period ?of gardening leave?before he could start work at any rival outfit.

Audi also has former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto overseeing the F1 project.

The next grand prix at Suzuka Circuit on March 29 is a home one for Honda but unlikely to bring any relief for the Japanese manufacturer.