Rosberg's current deal expires at the end of the season with Ferrari reportedly interested
Thursday 26 May 2016 17:14, UK
Niki Lauda has told Sky Sports News HQ he wants Nico Rosberg's Mercedes future sorted in the next three weeks.
Rosberg has been with the world champions since 2010 but his current deal expires at the end of this season, with reports in Italy linking him with a high-profile switch to rivals Ferrari.
Both driver and team have been insistent that they would like things to stay as they are, however, and Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda wants the situation cleared up soon.
"I'm sure we want to keep Nico, and Nico wants to stay," Lauda told Sky Sports News HQ's Craig Slater at the Monaco GP. "I don't see any issues at all and this will be fixed very soon.
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"We have to decide it in the next three weeks. This is my point of view, to let him know that we all stick together for the next couple of years.
"This is my suggestion, but I'm only the chairman. Toto [Wolff] will handle it and I'll watch it."
Mercedes confirmed a new three-year deal for Hamilton at last year's race in the principality, but team boss Toto Wolff told SSNHQ on Wednesday there would be no such announcement regarding Rosberg's future this weekend.
But Wolff, who has been quoted in the foreign media talking up Fernando Alonso as a possible replacement, was eager to downplay the possibility of Rosberg, the current championship leader, leaving.
"We are having talks and we are just finding out what we want, what each other's objectives are, and this is a regular process," the team's principal said.
"I would not be surprised [if he was approached by Ferrari]. He's a great driver, he's a good asset for everybody. I don't know if it happened, but if it happened that's pretty normal."
But would the long-running feud between himself and Hamilton affect the decision, especially after their crash at the Spanish GP?
"Absolutely not," Wolff added. "He's been part of the Mercedes family since the journey began in 2010, he's the current championship leader, has won seven races in a row, nobody ever doubts in his capabilities."
Rosberg has four wins to his name this season but was off the pace on the first day of running in Monaco, trailing Lewis Hamilton in both sessions.
Watch the Monaco GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.
