0
Mercedes bosses Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff are looking to remain with the reigning champions after their contracts expire next year.
Despite being shareholders in the team, both Austrians are only contracted in their management positions until the end of the 2017 season.
Wolff Calls for Urgent Rule Review After Bearman Crash: "This Cannot Happen Again"
Reconstruction: Antonelli Is Creating a Verstappen-Style Culture Shock at Mercedes
However, former Formula One driver Lauda has revealed to Osterreich that he and Wolff are in talks to renew their contracts.
"Toto and I are negotiating a renewal of the contracts that expire next year," he said. "How long I renew for, I cannot say. But the Concorde Agreement runs until 2020, so it would be logical to cover this period."
"I believe that will be possible," the triple world champion added.
Osterreich also reported that Lauda may be seeking a bonus on top of his current €750,000 salary after Mercedes' run of six titles in three years.
Nico Rosberg is another man who is staying at Mercedes, having negotiated his own contract renewal earlier this year.
The German is on target to win his first world championship this year and Lauda insists that this isn't down to team mate Lewis Hamilton's bad luck, but rather the improvement that Rosberg has made.
"Nico would not be champion for nothing, because he has had a perfect season and improved big time," Lauda said. "Nico changed completely this year. In previous years Lewis had a slight advantage, but through rigorous work and fast racing, Rosberg has been the better this year."
Lauda now insists that the key to a strong title battle between both Mercedes drivers is ensuring that their reliability is as good as it can be for the final four races.
"We need to ensure that both cars run in the last four races until the last lap," said Lauda, also insisting that tension between Rosberg and Hamilton is not a problem.
"Both push each other to excel and this drives the whole team, especially on car development," he added.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
A. Antonelli
C. Leclerc
66 members have this team as their favourite
Replies (0)
Login to reply