Niki Lauda: 'Mercedes must keep Nico Rosberg'

Niki Lauda has said that said it must be Mercedes' priority to keep Nico Rosberg next year.

Championship leader Rosberg's contract expires at the end of the year, and he is being assisted in his negotiations to renew it by F1 legend Gerhard Berger.

"I'm friends with him and his father Keke," Berger confirmed to Bild. "[Nico] wants to be able to concentrate on driving and the world championship."

Lauda, who is Mercedes' team chairman, told Auto Motor und Sport: "So now two Austrians (Lauda and Berger) negotiate over a German-Finn.

"For me it's no problem if both contracts expire at the same time. Then we'd negotiate with one in March and the other in April. The aim must be to keep Rosberg."