Paddy Lowe will remain with McLaren this season, according to team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
Lowe's position as McLaren's technical director has been in doubt following rumours that he is heading to Mercedes where he could replace Ross Brawn as team boss.
But despite the whispers doing the rounds, Whitmarsh insists Lowe, who was been with McLaren since 1993, is staying put although concedes his long-term future remains unclear.
"One certainty is that Paddy will be part of the team for another year," Whitmarsh told Autosport.
"It's less certain beyond that. That is something that we will have some certainty on in the near future."
Pressed as to why Lowe was not present at Thursday's launch of the MP4-28, the team boss said: "Clearly there is a lot of media interest and I think it is good that Paddy concentrates on doing his job.
"I don't think he wants to create embarrassment to his team or his colleagues, so on his own election he felt it not appropriate to be here."
