Report: Niki Lauda to leave Mercedes F1 post after Toto Wolff bust-up

Former Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda is reportedly on the verge of leaving Mercedes after a bust-up with team boss Toto Wolff.

According to The Telegraph and the Daily Mail, the Austrian's rumoured exit plans are down to a disagreement over supplying engines to Red Bull.

It is thought that Lauda agreed a deal with Red Bull supremo Dietrich Mateschitz for Mercedes to provide power units from 2016, but Wolff subsequently vetoed the agreement.

Such is the breakdown in the relationship between Wolff and Lauda that The Times has claimed the 66-year-old "could quit at any time".

Red Bull are expected to announce their engine partner for 2016 in due course, with several reports suggesting that they will stick with Renault.