Gerhard Berger says the ball is in Mercedes’ court over Nico Rosberg’s negotiations for a contract beyond 2016.<\/p>\n
There have been reports the talks have hit a snag because while Rosberg wants a multi-year deal, Mercedes is only offering him a contract for 2017 only in order to leave the door open for Pascal Wehrlein’s debut the year after.<\/p>\n
“Everything is going according to plan,” Berger, who is conducting Rosberg’s negotiations on his behalf, told the German broadcaster Sky.<\/p>\n
“Both sides have the same goal — to see Nico at Mercedes for many years.\u00a0 There are only a few points on which we need to come to an agreement.”<\/p>\n
Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda agrees that, amid the current talks, he is optimistic.<\/p>\n
“I can reassure everyone,” the F1 legend said.\u00a0 “The negotiations are going very well.\u00a0 In a relatively short period of time, everything will be done.”<\/p>\n
It is rumoured that, with Rosberg wanting three years but Mercedes only offering one, a two-year compromise contract is now being discussed.<\/p>\n
“The ball is now in Mercedes’ court,” Berger confirmed to Germany’s Auto Bild.<\/p>\n
The former Ferrari and McLaren driver suggested that Mercedes would be wise to stick with Rosberg, given the less stable lifestyle enjoyed by the team’s other driver, Lewis Hamilton.<\/p>\n
“When you hear how many times he (Hamilton) jets between America and Europe between races, and think of the effort and energy that 1000 people put into a race weekend, it is important that they have the perfect balance in the team,” Berger told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.<\/p>\n
“In Rosberg, they have an equally good driver from the sporting point of view and also highly reliable,” he added.<\/p>\n
There have been rumours that, should the parties not agree, Rosberg is open to speaking with Ferrari.<\/p>\n
Berger admits that Ferrari needs another top driver alongside Sebastian Vettel.<\/p>\n
“Both Red Bull and Ferrari have come to understand that you need to drivers of the calibre of Hamilton and Rosberg to be constructors’ champion,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That’s why Red Bull has put Verstappen in there so quickly, so Ferrari must react quickly.\u00a0 And they will.”<\/p>\n
But would the very Italian Ferrari really pair two Germans together in 2017?\u00a0 “Bernie Ecclestone would say that Nico is from Monaco,” laughed Berger.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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