Valtteri Bottas claims he does have alternative plans in place should he be dropped by Mercedes after this season.
There was a growing sense over the Hungarian GP weekend that the Finn may well be replaced by reserve driver Esteban Ocon in 2020, with a decision expected this summer.
Previously, Bottas has claimed he'd be open to a Ferrari move if that scenario took place but wouldn't confirm whether it was one of his options.
“Of course, when you’re in that situation and you still want to race in F1 you need to have a Plan B and possibly a Plan C,” he said.
“For sure I’m thinking about stuff, talking about stuff and it’s good to have different plans. Now we wait.”
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As for team boss Toto Wolff, last weekend he limited the options to just Bottas and Ocon for next year, ruling out Mercedes junior George Russell as he continues his development with Williams.
The Austrian also made it clear that whoever didn't get a seat for 2020 would get the full support of the team to shape their next move.
“It absolutely plays a role because we have responsibility for our drivers,” he said.
“We have responsibility for our juniors and for the ones who are in the car with us right now, and we’re not going to do anything that’s going to make it harder for them.
“So yes, whatever we decide we consider the option for the driver to go elsewhere, and if it’s for Esteban [to] progress, to make it back one day in a Mercedes, or if it’s for Valtteri, have a soft landing as you call it.
“Because he deserves it, he had great speed [in qualifying at the Hungarian GP].”
