Briatore rules out Alonso Mercedes move

Rosberg shocked the world of motorsport last Friday when he announced his immediate retirement, five days after winning the world championship and having only signed a new deal to keep him with Mercedes until 2018 in July.

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Mercedes has had significant interest in the seat, but boss Toto Wolff said he would be reluctant to "interfere" with contracted drivers such as Alonso and Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari.

Alonso still has one year left on his McLaren deal, having re-joined the team in 2015.

Briatore, Alonso's former manager and boss at Renault when he won his two world championships, told Gazzetta dello Sport: "How is it that, whenever a seat becomes available, Fernando is always mentioned?

"But there is a contract and we respect it."

Alonso ended his Ferrari contract two years early to join McLaren in time for the 2015 season.

However, Briatore said the two scenarios were different because a special agreement had been made with Ferrari.

"The situation [at Ferrari] was different and we had an agreement with [then Ferrari president Luca di] Montezemolo," said Briatore.

"If we didn't win the title in 2014, we would be free.

"Luca kept that promise.

"It's true that [then team principal Marco] Mattiacci offered us a three-year renewal, but we refused."

Translation by Michele Lostia