Tuesday 2 June at 14:29 : Jun.2 (GMM) Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz's F1 boss, has played down reports he is openly hinting at a McLaren seat for German driver Nico Rosberg in 2010

Rosberg, 23, is out of contract at Williams at the end of the season, as is Lewis Hamilton's current Mercedes-powered teammate Heikki Kovalainen

Haug was reported in Monaco to have said only a binding contract prevented McLaren from signing Rosberg at the end of 2007, and that he is still "on many teams' lists" for next year

But on Tuesday the Mercedes motor sport vice-president insisted: "At the beginning of June I am not ready to discuss drivers for the following year

"Perhaps nothing at all will change, but we are not under time pressure and that's all I am going to say publicly," the 56-year-old added