Championship leader Nico Rosberg and Mercedes have played down rising speculation about the German driver’s expiring contract.
Reports have suggested Rosberg is on pole position for a new deal beyond 2016, given his six straight wins.
But Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told Bild newspaper in Berlin: “Nico is not thinking about a new contract.
“He is currently so strong that while the topic interests the media, for a driver it is nothing,” he said.
Rosberg agreed: “This is currently not an issue for me. But I do want to continue for many years here (at Mercedes), that’s clear.”
Some reports have said Mercedes will want to quickly secure a deal with the on-form 30-year-old, but former F1 driver Marc Surer is not so sure.
“Mercedes is still in the best bargaining position,” he said, “because all other options for Nico are worse. And without a new contract in his pocket, a driver goes hungry.”
