Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says that Lewis Hamilton staying with the team beyond the end of this season is "the obvious pairing".
The six-time world champion's contract runs out at the end of 2020 and he has so far made no decisions on his future.
Wolff said: "We would like to have the fastest man in the car and I know Lewis wants to be in the fastest car, so there is an obvious mutual outcome."
He added he had not spoken to Hamilton, 35, since the end of 2019.
"We travel around the world 10 months every year but over the winter we leave each other in peace and the last conversation I had with him was at the Christmas party," said Wolff.
"I have great belief in the abilities of the team to attract the best drivers and Lewis has proven he is the best driver. And in the mid and long term, I would hope we can continue to provide technology to the best driver."
Wolff and Hamilton are likely to begin initial conversations over a new contract when they meet this month - the 2020 Mercedes runs for the first time at Silverstone on Friday before pre-season testing starts in Spain on 19 February.
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