Aston Martin deny reports of Newey returning to technical role & Audi's Wheatley taking over

[p]The www.motorsport.com website reported ‌the acclaimed designer would stand aside to focus on technical matters, with Wheatley returning to ‌Britain from Audi's factory in Switzerland.[/p][p][b]"The team will not be ‌engaging in media speculation about its senior leadership team," [/b]Aston Martin said in ‌a statement.[/p][p][b]"Adrian Newey continues to lead the team as Team ‌Principal and Managing Technical Partner."[/b][/p][p]Audi said they were aware of the media reports.[/p][p][b]"There is no official update from our side at this point in time and we ‌do not comment on speculation,"[/b] said a team ⁠spokesman.[/p][p]Silverstone-based Aston Martin have yet ‌to score a point or finish either of the two grands prix this ​season, with their new Honda power unit lacking performance and producing heavy vibrations.[/p][p]Two-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-fernando/rVRhR90U/"]Fernando Alonso[/a] 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.[/p][p]The team are owned by Canadian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stroll-lance/I3p9zz4s/"]Lawrence Stroll[/a], whose son Lance races as Spaniard Alonso's teammate. They finished seventh last season with Mercedes engines.[/p][p]Newey took over ‌as principal this season with previous incumbent Andy Cowell, a former Mercedes engine boss, moving into a strategy role.[/p][p]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 and tasked with building a winning car.[/p][p]The softly-spoken Briton, 67, had worked closely with former team boss Christian Horner and Dutch four-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] at Red Bull, but his promotion as Aston principal came ‌as a surprise.[/p][p]Wheatley, who also worked with Newey at Red Bull previously ​and was sporting director when he left, joined Audi's predecessor ‌Sauber in April last year.[/p][p]Any further move would likely involve a long period of 'gardening leave' before he could start work at any rival outfit.[/p][p]Audi also have former Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto overseeing the F1 project.[/p][p]The next grand prix at Japan's Suzuka circuit on ⁠March 29 is a home ⁠one for Honda but unlikely ‌to bring any relief for the Japanese manufacturer.[/p]