Toto Wolff has recommended to Renault that they promote Esteban Ocon for a full race seat at the French works team for 2017.
Backed by Mercedes, the Frenchman is on loan to Renault this year as reserve and occasional Friday driver.
International media sources claim that Ocon is first in line to emerge after the summer break as the replacement at Manor for Rio Haryanto, giving Mercedes a direct comparison between him and fellow Mercedes junior Pascal Wehrlein.
"Esteban has an impeccable personality - he really is a nice and intelligent young man. And his performance in the car is extraordinary," Wolff told Canal Plus.
"He did two sensational test days with us at Silverstone and we saw that he did the same time as [Kevin] Magnussen in Friday free practice, so he is someone who has a big future.
"I hope that my colleagues realise all of this, otherwise it will be us who will be taking him back!"
The 2016 championship resumes on August 28 with the Belgian Grand Prix.
