Alex Wurz and Heinz-Harald Frentzen had both been linked with the drive with the latest paddock gossip claiming McNish’s last race will be at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest in three weeks’ time.

The Briton was the team’s top-placed qualifier in 17th for today’s German Grand Prix in German, but dropped back behind Salo once racing go under at Hockenheim before retiring with an engine failure.

And today his team insisted there were no plans to drop the 32-year-old in the near future.

A statement read: “In direct response to recent rumours concerning its driver line-up, Panasonic Toyota Racing would like to set the record straight.

“There is absolutely no truth in reports claiming that Allan McNish will not complete the 2002 Formula One season with Panasonic Toyota Racing.

“Team president Ove Andersson clearly stated during Friday’s FIA press conference in Hockenheim that no decision regarding the 2003 driver line-up has yet been taken.”

Dumfries-born McNish yesterday claimed he was not troubled by the continuing rumours.

He said: “I’ve been in this game quite a while and I know how hard it can be, so a few rumours are not going to affect me.

“I’ll keep doing my job, just as I have done up until now. You can see the facts, that I’m doing a good job.

“Saturday is just more proof the decision (to be given the drive) was correct. It extends to all the people who thought it wasn’t a good decision.

“As for the rumour going around that I am out in Budapest, that has never been a consideration.

“Without going into details, they (the team) are happy with what I’ve done and I’m very, very confident about the situation.”