Mercedes F1 eye up Scottish star Paul di Resta

Mercedes have confirmed Scottish sensation Paul di Resta is in their sights should Michael Schumacher pull the pin at the end of the season.

The Force India star has recently been linked with Ferrari as a replacement for the flailing Felipe Massa, although Di Resta has a long association with Mercedes having come through their youth programme.

And chief executive Nick Fry admitted the team would make a play for the 26-year-old (pictured) if, as expected, seven-time champion Schumacher retires for a second time at the conclusion of the current campaign.

“Of course Paul’s on our radar,” Fry said. “He’s done a fantastic job, he’s a nice guy, he’s great team player and he would be one of the drivers undoubtedly that, if Michael were to decide he didn’t want to continue, we would look at. But we haven’t reached that time yet in our thinking, although we have all got a lot of admiration for Paul.”

Meanwhile, the likelihood that Schumacher will be nudged out the door seems to be growing by the week.

The veteran has scored just two points this term compared to Nico Rosberg’s haul of 41 and will start off this weekend’s race in Monaco handicapped by a five-place grid demotion.

And Fry added: “I am sure if we get to the end of this year and it is continues as it has done for the last few races I think he will probably be asking himself that question. There is time to go and we are not making any decisions yet.”