Rosberg: "Clever" Berger crucial to Mercedes contract extension

Rosberg had enlisted Berger back in May to represent him in contract talks with Mercedes - and the dialogue eventually yielded a new deal that will keep Rosberg with the Silver Arrows until the end of 2018.

"I am excited to put that signature on the piece of paper," Rosberg said. "Of course, Gerhard Berger took charge of it for me, that was the best decision, for sure, and I am thankful he accepted to help out with it because he knows what he is doing.

"Now I am very happy with the end result and excited to go into the future now, a few more years together, and it is the best team. They are giving me an incredible car every time out there, even today it was phenomenal again."

Asked why it was important to ask Berger for help with the negotiations, Rosberg said: "For two reasons. One - because he knows what he is doing. The guy is clever.

"So he has just done a great job with it, with the negotiations and everything, so I am very happy with the end result.

"And secondly, it always takes some focus off, negotiations like that, it is such a big thing, it is such an important thing.

"Gerhard taking over allowed me to keep 110% focus on my race driving and that is what I wanted to do."

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble