Mercedes will have a third driver option available for 2018 to avoid a repeat of last year's frantic effort to replace Nico Rosberg following his shock retirement, according to Motorsport boss Toto Wolff.
The current world champion turned the sport on its head when he decided to call time on his Formula 1 career, five days after claiming the title in Abu Dhabi, that led to the German manufacturer scrambling before eventually securing their preferred choice Valtteri Bottas from Williams in January.
That only came after tough negotiations with the Grove-based team and the willingness of Felipe Massa to put off his retirement and remain with Williams for this season. It is also thought the later move of Paddy Lowe from Mercedes to Williams was also agreed as part of the Bottas switch, though that was never confirmed.
"There is certainly a component that in F1 you need to have a fallback solution, a plan B," Wolff told Autosport ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
"Even having a contract doesn't necessarily mean that everything is going to be like it is. There could be a change of circumstances.
"What we have now is a plan A and then there is obviously various possible plays afterward because the driver market changes a lot in 2018 and 2019. It is important to consider plan B and C."
The chance of a surprise exit for the second straight year is slim, with only the future of Lewis Hamilton really to worry about. The Briton is under contract for 2018 but on the question of his own retirement has admitted he doesn't know how he'd feel in November particularly if he won a fourth world title.
As for Bottas, talks have begun on a new contract after an impressive first year with the team. So much so, Rosberg even suggested the Finn had been more consistent than his teammate.
"Please do not forget about Valtteri Bottas. He really has a chance as he is fast and perhaps a bit more consistent than Lewis," Rosberg told Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung considering his championship credentials.
"Lewis is unbeatable on good days, but he also has a few more difficult weekends for various reasons."
Also at the forefront of Mercedes' mind is the chance for many high-profile driver moves for 2019. All of the top three teams could see their drivers available as contracts expire or, as is the case at Red Bull, frustration boils over.
It is this that is believed to be holding up Ferrari's re-signing of Sebastian Vettel with the German wanting a one-year deal while Ferrari wants three.
"It is very complex," Wolff continued. "There are many possibilities where a driver could end up [as] there are certainly at least a handful of capable drivers who would perform in a Mercedes. So you have to consider all scenarios."
