Mercedes Formula 1 non-executive chairman Niki Lauda has confirmed that talks ꦍwere held with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel over a 2018 race seat, but ended "a couple of months ago".

﷽Ferrari announced on Saturday morning that Vettel had signed a new three-year contract, taking him to the end of the 2020 season at Maranello.

Vettel had been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2018 while he was a free agent, with the defending champion team having📖 a seat available alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Lauda revealed that talks had taken place between Mercedes and Ferrari, but broke downౠ as Vettel found his car to b🍸ecome more and more competitive in his bid for a fifth F1 world title.

“We discussed briefly once with him, but the more the competitive the Ferrari goes the less th🎀e reason he would to leave,” Lauda said.

“So therefore we s🍌topped it 🐟right away, a couple of months ago.

"Every driver if he is clever talks to more one team so that when he negotiates he is in a better position. I think that is what he di🥂d."

Mercedes is still to confirm its line-up for 2018, but Valtteri Bottas is expected to receive a contract extension 🅷after an impressive start to life with the German manufacturer.