Toto Wolff has said it is his “responsibility” to help Valtteri Bottas find a new drive if he is allowed to leave Mercedes this season.
Mercedes are currently choosing between Bottas and George Russell as the partner for Lewis Hamilton going into next season, with both out of contract at the end of this year.
The Finn has driven for the team since 2017, helping them to four constructors’ championship and finishing second in the drivers’ standings twice.
Asked if Wolff would help Bottas find a new situation in the circumstances where he is let go by Mercedes, the Austrian replied: “If we were to come to the situation that we wanted to give somebody else a go, then it’s not only my relationship with him but also my responsibility that he has a great future.
“Because he deserves that. He has been the team mate of the best Formula 1 driver of all time and that is not always very easy to shine, but he’s fantastic.”
Wolff has previously said that a decision will be made before the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
“Valtteri has ticked all the boxes that we needed to understand, not only recently but also before,” he added.
“It is more of a strategic decision whether we stay with the current line-up or whether we go more bold next year.
“But we’re going to sit down with the drivers, with both of them – because George is a Mercedes driver – and then discuss and then come up with a decision.”