Spyker suspend their chief designer

McQuilliam has joined Jordan in 1991, shortly after the team entered Formula One, and has worked with the Silverstone-based squad ever since.

He moved up the ranks to the role of technical director, remaining in that position when the team was bought out by Midland. When Spyker took over the team, he remained at the role of chief designer.

But last week team principal Colin Kolles has suspended the Briton, although he would not divulge the reasons for the suspension.

Kolles also refused to say whether or not McQuilliam's suspension has anything to do with Spyker's new B-spec car failing a crash test just days before its debut.

"His position is currently being investigated by the team," was all Kolles would say when asked about McQuilliam's situation.

Spyker were forced to abandon plans to race their B-spec car at last weekend's Turkish Grand Prix after it failed crash tests in the week before the event.

The team had to revert to their original car for the weekend but are hoping to have the B-spec version ready for the Italian Grand Prix.

The news about McQuilliam's situation comes amid continued rumours that former Red Bull Racing technical director Mark Smith is on his way to Spyker to renew his working relationship with technical chief Mike Gascoyne.

Smith's future at Red Bull has been in doubt since Geoff Willis joined the team last month.

Red Bull are still waiting to hear whether or not Smith will accept a new role at the company.

Sources at the Red Bull Racing outfit insist, however, that Smith is now almost certain to leave and make the switch to Spyker.

Spyker themselves have declined to comment on these speculations.