Nico Rosberg and Mercedes are reportedly edging close to agreeing a new contract for 2017 and beyond.

Family friend Gerhard Berger's efforts to negotiate on the 30-year-old's behalf are paying off, according to Kolner Express.

One suggestion is that Mercedes may have sped up efforts to close the deal as Rosberg's big points lead over Lewis Hamilton is eroded, indicating that the German may be struggling to cope with the title chase and the contract talks.

"No, first of all he had a brilliant adviser who is pretty experienced in negotiating good contacts, and that was very clever because he took himself out of it," team boss Toto Wolff said in Baku.

The report claims a two-year deal with a significant salary increase is in the offing, with Wolff quoted as saying: "We are on the right track."

The newspaper even quoted Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda as confidently predicting: "Nico will drive for us next year."

Rosberg now leads Hamilton in the standings by just nine points.