Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has once again raised the prospect of Mick Schumacher joining the company's young driver program.

The 19-year-old obviously has key contacts with both Mercedes and Ferrari through his father Michael with both teams keen to welcome the German into their ranks.

That fight has become slightly more intense this year with Schumacher's success in European Formula 3 and at the FIA gala, Wolff talked up the youngster.

“He’s won the Formula 3 championship this year with Mercedes engines, which is great, but he’s not part of the Mercedes-Benz junior programme,” the Austrian confirmed.

“The most important [thing] is to give him time. He has this incredible legacy of having a father who was the most successful racing driver of all-time.

“He’s won F3, ticked the box, now he’s going into F2, which should be very difficult again against many experienced drivers.

“I have no doubt he has the potential to be a successful driver in F1. Maybe one day with us, maybe not.”

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The question of the importance of such driver programs has been raised this year, however, with Red Bull having to re-hire previous names they rejected and Mercedes too seeing Pascal Wehrlein leave the stable at the same time as Esteban Ocon lost his seat at Force India.

“Michael Schumacher started as a Mercedes young driver in sportscars and became the best of all-time,” Wolff pointed out in defence of the practice.

“In the same way, today, we’re looking at very young drivers like we did in the past, with Pascal Werhlein, Esteban Ocon and George Russell and we hope to see these kids graduate successfully into Formula 1 and make their own career, and hopefully one day stay in a Mercedes.

“I personally think about the enjoyment about them coming together and coaching them and mentoring them with our group," he added.

“I think it’s very important for Mercedes to play a role in the young driver programme.”