Driver talks are taking place - Haug

Norbert Haug has contradicted McLaren's team boss by confirming that talks with other drivers have taken place.

With Heikki Kovalainen's place for 2010 not secured, Martin Whitmarsh had insisted at Valencia last weekend: "At the moment we have not had, nor are we in, conversations with any other drivers."

But Haug, Mercedes' competition chief who is reportedly pushing for McLaren to sign German driver Nico Rosberg, is quoted as saying by Auto Bild: "We speak with drivers. I speak with drivers.

"If that was not the case we would not be doing our job.

"At a certain time, but we are not going to say precisely when, we will make our decision about who is driving for us next year," added Haug.

Kovalainen, 27, had a better weekend at Valencia after Whitmarsh said the Finn needed to up his game. But the British chief then said that while Valencia had been better, the driver still needs to work on his race pace.

Haug confirmed: "He did do a better job (at Valencia) than in some other races.

"He started on the first row of the grid so for sure fourth place is not exactly what he expects but it was his best result so far."