Niki Lauda: 'Fernando Alonso not on Mercedes wish list'

Niki Lauda has dealt a blow to Fernando Alonso's chances of switching to Mercedes next year.

Earlier, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said that the Spaniard could not be ruled out for 2018, but pointed to Alonso's historically problematic character and past run-ins with Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso, 35, has said that he might be on the move at the end of the year, as his three-year contract with struggling McLaren-Honda finally runs out.

However, Mercedes team chairman Lauda told Swiss newspaper Blick: "[Alonso] is certainly not on our wish list.

"We are fully satisfied with Hamilton and [Valtteri] Bottas. But as my partner Toto Wolff has said - never say never."

Alonso is sitting out this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix to compete in the Indy 500.