Ferrari have finally confirmed that Lewis Hamilton, whose £40million-a-year Mercedes deal expires next year, has held talks over a sensational move to the Scuderia.
The six-time world champion continues to be linked with the famous Italian outfit in what would arguably be one of the biggest moves in Formula One history.
Hamilton, 34, refused to deny a report at the final race in Abu Dhabi that he has already met with Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
And now the Italian's chief executive Louis Camilleri has revealed that preliminary discussions over a move for the 2021 season have taken place.
"It has been made public that Lewis has had conversations with our chairman," said Camilleri in a end-of-year debrief at the Italian team's Maranello HQ.
"We clearly are very flattered that Lewis in particular, and other drivers, want to come and join us. Every driver on the grid would like to drive a Ferrari.
"We have a long-term agreement with one driver [Charles Leclerc] and with the other driver [Sebastian Vettel] the agreement expires at the end of 2020.
"It would be premature to decide anything now for the future. We will look at our options and see what is the best fit for our team."
Camilleri also scuppered any ambition Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has of running F1 by stating that Ferrari would vote against any potential move to the sport's American owners' Liberty Media.
Wolff has been earmarked as a prime candidate to take over from Chase Carey, whose future as F1's CEO has been the subject of much speculation.
"Anybody who has been an active and important player in a certain team within the last years to take on the responsibility at F1 would create a conflict of interest," added Camilleri.
"It would not be a good thing [that Wolff] should ultimately run F1.
"Our position is if [Ferrari team principal] Mattia Binotto was the candidate to replace Chase, the rest of the paddock would not be too happy.
"Our veto is the last resort tool. Should we be confronted with that [Wolff taking over from Carey] we would explain our position quite clearly to the folks at Liberty."
