Rosberg contract talks unaffected by latest clash - Berger

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Sunday's Austrian GP clash between Nico Rosberg and team mate Lewis Hamilton will have no impact on current ongoing contract negotiations between Mercedes and the German driver, according to Gerhard Berger.

Rosberg and Mercedes are in the midst of discussions to extend the former's contract with the manufacturer, with Gerhard Berger entrusted with looking after Rosberg's interests on the matter.

The former McLaren and Ferrari driver is adamant that the latest episode involving Mercedes' drivers will have no bearing on Rosberg's immediate future.

"That would be very short term thinking of everybody," Berger insisted.

"We saw a race where someone did an outstanding job and then what happened in the last lap was a couple of circumstances - it is racing. I don't see the mistake on Nico, I don't see the mistake on Lewis."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has pointed towards team orders as perhaps the only viable solution to keep the team's drivers in line for the rest of the season.

Commenting on that notion, Berger believes freezing race positions would only make sense if it were decided in the closing laps of a race, not before.

"If you want to be sure something like this is not happening in the last lap and the cars are together, you need to tell them 'keep position'.

"It's the only way to avoid something like this. If on lap 10 or lap 20 you try to fix team orders, nobody would feel good.

"If you're leading in a team with one-two in the last lap after a race like this, and you say 'keep position', I think people would have much more understanding."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.