Mercedes have no backup plan in place for a situation in which Lewis Hamilton decides to retire from Formula 1 at the end of the year.
The seven-time world champion's current contract expires this season. An extension looked to be little more than a formality over the winter with both Hamilton and team boss Toto Wolff publicly declaring their desire to agree to fresh terms.
But no new deal materialised, with the racer globetrotting in his time off and Mercedes focussed on their development of the W14. When it became clear at the Bahrain season-opener that they were not competitive with Red Bull again, all contract talks were put on hold.
