Esteban Ocon has refused to rule out a possible switch to Mercedes next year as Lewis Hamilton's replacement and still has "strong links" to the Silver Arrows team.
Ocon was signed up to Mercedes' junior team before he made the step up to F1 in 2016 with Manor Racing.
He then switched to Force India for the next two seasons before losing his seat to Lance Stroll and spent a year as Mercedes' reserve driver in 2019.
There were strong rumours that Ocon was being touted as a possible replacement for Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes for the 2020 season, but Wolff kept faith with the Finnish driver.
Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the year
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Ocon then appeared to cut ties with Mercedes when he agreed to join Renault in 2020.
The Frenchman has been a regular on the grid ever since and picked up his first F1 race win during the 2021 season.
Like most drivers on the grid, he's out of contract at the end of the 2024 season though with F1 set to look majorly different next year.
Hamilton's imminent departure from Mercedes and Ferrari has already sent shockwaves around the paddock with the Silver Arrows now on the hunt for his replacement.
Wolff has refused to discuss any drivers publicly, leaving his options open for any "unexpected opportunities".
But Ocon has left the door open for a return to Mercedes if the opportunity arises to take Hamilton's seat.
"I obviously still have strong links with Mercedes, I'm still a Mercedes junior driver, that is no secret to anyone," Ocon said.
"But I'm totally dedicated to Alpine this year, I've got 24 races to get through and we'll see where we end up.
"Formula 1 is fierce, a lot of things can happen, as we can see, but I'm ready to take on the challenge.
Esteban Ocon remains linked to Mercedes
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"This has always been, even if I'm not that junior anymore, I'm still contracted with them at some stage.
"So, it is how it is. We will see."
Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 17, has secured a drive for Prema in F2 this season and is being touted as a possible option should he impress.
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Esteban Ocon was a Mercedes junior before he moved into F1
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But Wolff doesn't want to put any pressure on the teenager as he prepares to make his debut in F2.
“Kimi’s been with Mercedes since he was 11 and he’s been in the junior programme and his junior career was very successful,” said Wolff.
“I think [what is] most important on that stage is that he concentrates on F2. I think if we start to spin his mind or unleash rumours in the media onto him, that’s not going to help his F2 campaign.
“He’s just stepped out of karts a few years ago and he’s not even 18. So I would rather not start any speculation about Kimi going into Formula 1 at that stage.”
