Rosberg: Formula 1 and Formula E will probably merge

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag claims to have the exclusive rights to electric racing and that Formula 1 cannot become electric in the future, despite the fact that Liberty Media are also stakeholders in the relatively new championship.

Agag also predicts that his series will become bigger than Formula 1 in the years to come.

FIA president Jean Todt immediately poured cold water on the theory that Formula E will usurp Formula 1, while Rosberg argues that there could well be a common middle-ground.

The 2016 F1 World Champion told the Associated Press, "Maybe we will never even get to that point and we will just see a merger between Formula 1 and Formula E before that."

"When the moment comes that Formula 1 needs to go electric, which will happen, maybe you will just see a merger then. The step for Formula 1 to go electric will be a big and difficult one.

"If the whole world is selling and driving electric cars, it doesn't make sense for Formula 1 to be combustion engines, so that moment will come."

"The advantage is that Formula 1 and Formula E have the same owner," added Rosberg, referencing Liberty's investment in the series.

The fifth edition of the Formula E championship begins on 15 December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.