Toto Wolff has described the Mercedes approach for Valtteri Bottas as "a delicate situation" and says it's no guarantee the Finn will join.
Bottas has been identified as Mercedes' top target to replace Nico Rosberg next season, with the 2016 drivers' champion having retired from F1 with immediate effect. While Williams has been working on contingency plans in case Bottas were to leave, Wolff says the approach doesn't necessarily mean Mercedes will choose to hire him.
"We have not yet made the decision because it involves more than just the driver and our team," Wolff told La Gazetta dello Sport. "We must have respect for other teams.
"Valtteri is an option but we also know how important he is for Williams. It's a delicate situation which requires us to move cautiously, so we've decided to take our time with it."
And Wolff dismissed any notion of there being a conflict of interest as he currently helps to manage Bottas, with the Mercedes boss saying he will step back from managing his career if the Williams driver joins.
"I'm not an idiot. When I joined Daimler four years ago, I signed a contract, so I can't manage or have a commercial interest in a Mercedes driver.
"It isn't a problem. The problem does not arise. Whoever is talking about a conflict of interest does not understand F1."
Silbermann says ... Merry Christmas
2016 team-by-team review: Part two
2016 team-by-team review: Part one
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