Mercedes are planning for a future without Lewis Hamilton with Daniel Ricciardo under consideration to come in as his replacement in 2024.
Hamilton is only signed up to the Silver Arrows until the end of next season, a few weeks short of his 39th birthday.
The seven-time world champion has made no exact public statement about the timing of his retirement, other than to say that he, rather than anyone else, will decide when his ‘masterpiece’ is completed.
However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is not leaving succession planning to chance, which is where Sportsmail understands Ricciardo comes into the reckoning.
The Australian has been axed by McLaren for next season after a dip in form and he wants to find a new home in motor racing’s premier series.
One idea under consideration by Mercedes is to enlist him as a reserve driver for next season and then have him as an oven-ready option to take over Hamilton’s race seat, if needed, and partner Englishman George Russell the following year.
Russell, 24, has impressed greatly during his first season at Mercedes and leads Hamilton by 30 points going into this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
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But he is patiently biding his time before assuming the role of de facto No 1 when Hamilton stops.
‘Mercedes are thinking about Ricciardo to cover off the possibility of walking away at the end of next season,’ a well-placed source told Sportsmail.
‘Having Daniel in their camp means they wouldn’t be left high and dry. It would also mean George would be the main man from that point in 2024.’
Ricciardo, an eight-time race winner, has said he is ‘pretty open-minded to any scenario’.
The 33-year-old has been linked with Haas but whether they want to meet his pay demands is doubtful. He may also find it unattractive to be parked at the backmarkers, especially if Mercedes continue to turn his head.