Christian Horner says that Mercedes' demand that Red Bull release Alex Albon for him to sign with Williams for 2022 is "slightly unusual", but also a big influence on the Anglo-Thai racer's situation.
With all four seats at Red Bull and AlphaTauri filled for 2022, the energy drink company is working to return its reserve driver to the grid next year.
Albon's availability has spurred the interest of both Williams and Alfa Romeo. But a move to the former of a Red Bull-affiliated driver is understandably being frowned upon by Mercedes which supplies its engines to the Grove-based outfit.
Indeed, Albon could bee seen as a pipeline of information for Red Bull which is in the process of setting up its own engine department that will take over Honda's power unit program from next season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff - who is also eyeing the available Williams seat for the benefit of its works Formula E driver Nyck de Vries - has therefore called on Red Bull to release Albon of all his contractual obligations should he wish to race with Williams next season.
"It’s slightly unusual," Horner said, addressing Wolff’s comments. "It’s a huge influence.
"But I’m sure Williams chooses the drivers they wish to drive in the car, and that they don’t have restrictions."
Asked why Red Bull would have to release Albon for him to join Williams, Horner said: "Maybe we don’t.
"We’ve had very productive discussions with Williams and with Alfa, and I expect the situation to hopefully be resolved in the next week or so."
"I think his preference would be Williams. But it’s great that there’s interest in him and I think it would be good to see him in back in a race seat."
Interestingly, the prospect of Albon joining Alfa Romeo hasn't raised any objections from the Swiss outfit's own engine supplier, Ferrari.
Scuderia boss Mattia Binotto chimed in on the current debate over Albon's fate, and insisted that a third party should not intervene in discussions between a team and a prospective driver.
"I believe that whatever is happening between a team and a driver should be between the team and the driver and as manufacturers we should not influence," said Binotto.
"If a driver got an opportunity to drive he should simply have the opportunity to drive, wherever he’s coming from.
"If the team is happy to give him a seat, it’s happy to give him a seat. That’s it."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
