Mercedes have admitted that Paul di Resta is in line for a race-seat with Michael Schumacher rumoured to be making way for the Scot.
Di Resta, who previously raced for and won titles with Mercedes in the German DTM series, made the swap to Formula One last season with the Mercedes-powered Force India team.
The Scot's continuous improvement, highlighted by his sixth-place finish at the Bahrain GP, has caught the eye of many in the paddock with rumours linking him to Schumacher's Mercedes race-seat.
And although the German team insists contract talks for next season will only take place in the distant future, CEO Nick Fry has revealed they are keeping an eye on di Resta's progress.
"Of course Paul's on our radar," Fry told Sky Sports News.
"He's done a fantastic job, he's a nice guy, he's 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.
"But we haven't reached that time yet in our thinking but we have all got a lot of admiration for Paul."
As for Schumacher's future, Fry surmises that if the German, who has just two points to his tally this campaign, does not improve as the season progresses he is likely to be the first to question whether he wants to continue.
"I am sure if we get to the end of this year and it is continues as it has done for the last few races I think he will probably be asking himself that question," he said.
"There is time to go and we are not making any decisions yet."
