Norbert Haug denies his exit from Mercedes linked with arrival of Niki Lauda

Norbert Haug insists that the presence of Niki Lauda at Mercedes has nothing to do with his departure from the German manufacturer after two decades.

Lauda himself, whose arrival at Brackley was confirmed at the same time as the signing of Lewis Hamilton for 2013 - a deal he was heavily credited with influencing - expressed regret that he would no longer be working with Haug. Speaking to Sky Sport News in Germany, the Austrian said: "I'm very sorry about that. I have always had a good relationship with him and for me it would be great to work with him in future time. "After the shock we have no idea how to fix the problem. Absolutely, Norbert will be missed in the team."