Paul di Resta is at the front of the queue should Mercedes need to replace Michael Schumacher.
That was the claim on Monday of Nick Fry, the chief executive of the German carmaker’s UK-based formula one team.
Seven time world champion Schumacher’s existing three-year contract expires at the end of this season.
"Paul’s on our radar," Fry is quoted by the Telegraph.
Scot di Resta, 26, has impressed since debuting for Mercedes-powered Force India in 2011. He entered F1 as the reigning DTM champion, driving for Mercedes.
"He has done a fantastic job, he’s a nice guy, he’s a great team player and he would be one of the drivers undoubtedly that, if Michael were to decide he didn’t want to continue, we would look at," Fry added.
"We haven’t reached that time in our thinking yet, but we have all got a lot of admiration for Paul."