Lewis Hamilton has rapidly rowed back his comments about Toto Wolff's rumoured candidacy for the top job in Formula 1.
Earlier this week, the five time world champion said his boss at Mercedes may not make a good replacement for F1 CEO Chase Carey because he could be "biased".
"It would be best to get someone from outside who is neutral and doesn't know about Ferrari for instance," he said.
But upon arriving in Austria, Hamilton took his comments back, saying he had been "conflicted" since saying them.
"I made a comment but I don't feel like I got out exactly what I was meaning," he said.
"I was thinking to myself, you know, bringing someone in that doesn't know much about Formula 1 is not necessarily the right decision.
"I think Toto could do a pretty special job."
Hamilton denied he had spoken on the topic in the last few days with either Wolff or FIA president Jean Todt.
"I see how Toto manages our team, and I don't know how he does it," he said. "I don't know anyone who could do this job better than Toto."