Mercedes remain confident of reaching a "mutual outcome" to retain Lewis Hamilton for 2021 and beyond.
The six-time world champion is out of contract at the end of this season and has been linked to Ferrari after it emerged he made contact with chairman John Elkann last year.
However, recent new deals for Charles Leclerc and particularly Max Verstappen, who was considered a potential option at Mercedes, have made it more likely Hamilton will stay put.
“I think it is the obvious pairing going forward. We would like to have the fastest man in the car and I know that Lewis wants to have the fastest car," team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged at the launch of a new partnership with INEOS and 2020 car livery on Monday.
“There is a mutual outcome.”
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Talks between Hamilton and Mercedes are expected to commence when the Briton returns from his winter break this month, but already it has been suggested money could be a potential disrupting factor, with Lewis likely to expect a raise.
“You need to respect that a sporting superstar at the peak of his ability, and at the peak of his career, has a limited lifespan where he is able to earn this kind of super money,” Wolff conceded.
“We do respect that and we respect the contribution that Lewis brings to Mercedes both on and off the track. Equally, Lewis has always respected that we are Mercedes and there are certain financial realities that are important to us.
“The money side has never been a sticking point [in previous contracts]. It was more about freedom and his projects," the Austrian revealed.
“We need to look at what makes him perform best. We want the best guy on qualifying on Saturday and in the race on Sunday and that will always be my main focus.”
