Championship leader Nico Rosberg has now played down swirling speculation that he might leave Mercedes at the end of the season.

An Italian newspaper recently suggested that talks with Ferrari have begun, with Germany's Sport Bild now claiming that the 30-year-old is moving to push his retainer much closer to the many more millions earned each year by Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg had fuelled the rumours at the recent Barcelona test by saying only "Let's see what the future holds", but in Monaco he sounded keen to stay with the Silver Arrows.

"I am happy, Mercedes is happy with me," he is quoted as saying by German broadcaster RTL. "For sure I will stay here for a few more years."

At the same time, Rosberg suggested that it is not quite time to sign on the dotted line.

"A new contract is not at the front of my mind at the moment," he said. "I am quite relaxed about it."

Rosberg has been with Mercedes since 2010.