From GMM

Norbert Haug has admitted his desire to unite a German formula one driver with a Mercedes-powered cockpit.

Haug, the German marque's competition chief in collaboration with McLaren, told Bild newspaper that "our desire and goal is to see a top German driver in a McLaren-Mercedes in three to four years."

McLaren currently fields a British-Finnish driver combination, and the closest a German got to a silver car in recent times was the failed bid to lure the now retired Michael Schumacher.

However, Haug has never hidden the fact that, when Fernando Alonso created a vacancy at the end of 2007, unfruitful efforts to sign Germans Nico Rosberg or Sebastian Vettel were made.

"We are very, very happy with our drivers at the moment; we have a very strong pairing," Haug said of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.

Haug admits, however, that he has been impressed by 21-year-old Vettel, the 2008 Monza winner who this year is commencing a two-year tenure with Red Bull Racing.

"I think he is very genuine and already a very, very strong driver," the German said.

"He combines his talent with his work in a way that very few do. There is certainly a similarity with Michael Schumacher."