Rosberg still on McLaren wish-list

UPDATE This rumor is downgraded to 'speculation' today. Nico Rosberg has hinted that he could be looking for a long term deal with the Williams team, as speculation continues that McLaren is trying to sign the youngster as Fernando Alonso's replacement.

"I'm not going anywhere," Rosberg told The Mail newspaper. "I'll be at Williams for another season and hopefully for longer than that."

"It's very flattering to be linked with McLaren and it would certainly be interesting to team up with Lewis again, but I'm very happy where I am," he added. "We made a lot of progress last year and I'm hoping we'll continue to improve even more next season."

"I want to play a major part in taking Williams back to the good times, just as Alonso did with Renault and Schumacher did at Ferrari," Rosberg concluded.

Nico Rosberg

11/21/07 (GMM) Nico Rosberg is still high on McLaren's wish-list to replace Fernando Alonso in 2008 and beyond, reports on Wednesday from Germany claim.

Despite Williams confirming that the 22-year-old will line up alongside Kazuki Nakaima next season, the major German daily Bild-Zeitung says team boss Sir Frank Williams would accept a multi million dollar buyout.

The newspaper said Williams is seeking minimally $22 million from McLaren "for his racing jewel".

Michael Schumacher's manager Willi Weber, however, advises Rosberg and his management to resist the lure of Ron Dennis' Woking based team.

"McLaren could very quickly destroy his career," Weber told the newspaper.

"Hamilton is their number one, even if officially they will not say it."