Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug has redressed claims that Nick💟 Heidfeld may be poised to accept the role of reserve driver at the Three Pointed Star's new factory team, despite admitting that remains a fan of his countryman.

Heidfeld was hotly tipped to become a McLaren driver during Mercedes' partnership with the Woking team but, having been ෴backed by the marque in F3000, was overlooked in favour of rookie Sauber team-mate Kimi Raikkonen when the time came to replace Mika Hakkinen. The German was reportedly in talks with Mercedes to partner Nico Rosberg in its 2010 line-up, but was then replaced in its affections by Michael Schumacher, who inked a one-year deal to return to the top flight last month.

Since then, Heidfeld has been linked with several of the 🐷remaining vacancies on the grid, notably at Sauber and Renault, but does not appear a favourite for any, leaving him to potentially contemplate the end of his F1 career. And, although ౠthe rumours suggest that he would be welcomed at Brackley to play back-up to Schumacher and Rosberg, Haug has been quick to quash the speculation.

"There has only been basic contact with Nick, which is what I have had for several years," Haug told German press agency dpa, "We did talk to Nick about possibilities with Mercedes Gran🍸d Prix as well as McLaren-Merced♚es."

While Mercedes does not appear to be in a hurry to appoint a reserve - having already confirmed that Rosberg and Schumacher will share the winter testing opportunities between them - Haug has revealed that he continues to 'rate Nick and his abilit💮ies'.

"Like every other F1 team, we want a test and reserve driver," he insisted, "but we do n🐎ot feel under any time pressure to make a decision."