Hamilton 'a topic' for Red Bull in 2012 - Marko

Helmut Marko is not ruling out making a move for Lewis Hamilton, perhaps as imminently as in time for the 2012 season.

After a recent round of speculation, during which Red Bull team boss Christian Horner described Hamilton as a "great driver", the 2008 world champion insisted he is committed to McLaren.

Helmut Marko and Sebastian Vettel

Photo by: xpb.cc

But Hamilton also said in Australia: "Of course, I'm going to be in Formula One for some time, and you never know which way the wind will take you."

At Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel's future is firmly secure, but his current teammate Mark Webber - who had a dire start to the 2011 season in Melbourne - is signed up only to the end of the year.

"First we have to see how the season goes for Mark and what he decides," Red Bull's F1 consultant Marko told Sport Bild.

"Definitely with his aggression and his speed, Hamilton must always be a topic," the Austrian added.

"Our philosophy is to have the quickest drivers together in our team," said Marko.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he would be happy to see Vettel and Hamilton together at Red Bull.

"Both of them are a gift for Formula One, even more if they were in the same team," he said.