Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has kiddingly suggested he and Lewis Hamilton could "fly to Mars" together in response to rumours linking him to Ferrari.
It was former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan who claimed the potential blockbuster move of the six-time world champion to the Italian team would only happen if the Austrian went with him.
This as Wolff's future is also up for speculation with his contract expiring at the German manufacturer after next season.
“Sounds like a good plan, but I’d rather put something else out there: fly to Mars with Lewis and see if there is anything to be won there," he sarcastically told Kronen Zeitung.
“In all seriousness, I want to be successful with Mercedes in 2020, and what happens after that will be decided in the next few months.”
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Meanwhile, Hamilton has been given more advice on the possibility of joining Ferrari from former driver Gerhard Berger.
“For Lewis, I could not recommend more than if you can at one time in your career take the chance to drive for Ferrari,” he told UK newspaper The Guardian this week.
“It is an outstanding experience. I loved the Italian mentality, the brand and I think Lewis would.
"Driving for Ferrari is very emotionally driven. Some are cold to it, some react very much toward it. Me, I was affected very much because I love Ferrari,
"Most of the drivers love it. But it has to be right on timing," he cautioned.
Indeed, as Hamilton sits just one world title and seven race wins behind Michael Schumacher's records, the Austrian believes they should remain his priority.
“I think he should go to Ferrari but after he has beaten all he records,” Berger explained. “It would be too much to do it before.
"He has such a phenomenal team around him [at Mercedes]. You never leave a winning team, so perhaps it is not the right moment to do it now.”
