Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug has done little to quell talk that Michael Schumacher is being lined up for a possible return to F1 with the Mercedes GP team.

Rumours persist that the seven-time champion is wanted by Mercedes following its takeover of the Brawn GP outfit, despite Ross Brawn – who worked with the German at both Benetton and Ferrari – stating that he felt Schumacher had 'no ambitions' for a return [ see separate story HERE].

However, given the chance to end the rumours at a press conference to announce the arrival of Nico Rosberg to the Mercedes team, Haug simply replied that you 'can't say anything categorically in F1'.

“When will you ever say categorically anything in F1?” he was quoted by Autoweek. “I think Ross made it quite clear, I think Nick [Fry] pointed it out. I really have nothing to add, and that's why we live with probably ongoing speculation.

“I'm sure that we have a very, very strong driver in Nico, and we will have another driver--and I specifically am not saying a second driver--we want to have the same basis for the drivers. Let's just wait and see a little bit.

“Last Monday's was a very good story, Nico's story is a very good story, and hopefully we can deliver a third one [next]. That's in our interest, that's in your interest. It is mainly in the interests of F1, because F1 needs some positive news right now, and hopefully we can help to create this news.”

Haug's comments come on the back of further fuel being added to the rumours by Schumacher's agent Willi Weber, who revealed that talks between the most successful driver in F1 history and Mercedes have taken place.

“I know that Michael spoke with [Daimler CEO] Dieter Zetsche and Norbert Haug at the season finale in Abu Dhabi,” he told the Guardian.