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Nico Rosberg has signed a new contract with Mercedes and will continue to partner triple world champion Lewis Hamilton for the next two years.

The German joined the team at the end of 2009 and has been runner-up in the championship for the past two seasons.

The 31-year-old’s new deal means both he and Hamilton are under contract until the end of the 2018 season.

Rosberg leads the 2016 championship by one point from Hamilton going into tomorrow’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The pair are dominating F1, having won nine of the opening 10 races, but their relationship is a fractious one, punctuated by a number of on-track clashes.

Rosberg said the new contract was a “special moment for me”, adding: “I look forward to the future.”

In a statement, Mercedes said: “Nico has been a core member of the Silver Arrows since the team returned to the sport in 2010 and has played a crucial role in the team’s success in that time.”

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told BBC Sport: “Contract negotiations are never a formality because it is important for the driver and the team. It took a couple of months and we signed it last night.

“I am in for long-term stability especially with the regulations change. I am a faithful person and if it functions well with your wife you need to stay with your wife.”

Wolff also said he had no concerns about Rosberg and Hamilton’s contracts expiring at the same time.

“It means they will try to outperform each other and you have to think to the younger generation,” he said.

“For me, there is more opportunity than risk in having both run out at the same time.” – BBCSport.