Fernando Alonso dodged questions about a potential Red Bull switch - but admitted he will "look elsewhere" if he can't agree an extension with Aston Martin.
The Spaniard has been happy since joining his current team ahead of last season. It was one of the most fulfilling campaigns of his long Formula 1 career, yielding eight podium finishes - though he remains without a race win for more than a decade.
He will turn 43 this year but still harbours the ambition of getting back to the top step of the podium. And, given his performances since joining Aston Martin, the top teams capable of providing a car that could help him do that have taken notice.
Alonso has been linked with a switch to Red Bull, who have a decision to make over Sergio Perez 's future. The Mexican came into the season fighting for his place, but has started well with back-to-back second-place finishes to begin the campaign.
Ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, Alonso was asked about the speculation linking him to Red Bull - but declined to answer. "Nothing to comment because everything I say now is just a guess and rumours," he said.
Retirement remains a possibility, if he decides he no longer has the motivation to give 100 percent to his racing. And he has made it clear when such a decision on his long-term F1 future is likely to be made. "I think it's going to be before summer," he said.
"At the launch of the car I said after a few races and now I see that every race I have been asked the same questions. If I say summer, maybe I have a few races without any questions. I think it's the same thing I have been saying. I need to decide first how I feel. After that, I will see what possibilities are out there.
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"My priority is to speak with Aston first, to speak with them as they gave me the opportunity two years ago. That's the minimum I will do. If we feel that we're happy with each other that will be an easy choice. If we don't agree first then I will look elsewhere."
And Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has admitted his star driver has options. The Luxembourger said: "It is no secret that he, first of all, wants to decide for himself what he wants to do. We want to continue working with Fernando. The most important thing is that we give him a quick car so he believes in this project, believes in this team. Everything else, we will have to discuss over the weeks to come.
" It is clear that a driver of that calibre is attractive for everybody. That is clear. But we will try to keep him. We have seen that, last year already when he joined, it's not only what he brings in terms of driving talent and race craft - he brings this extra drive, push and motivation to everybody."