Nico Rosberg says he is yet to sign a new deal to be an ambassador for Mercedes in 2018.
Although he suddenly quit the German team and F1 after winning the 2016 title, he has remained on the payroll as a brand ambassador.
But for 2018, he is joining the German broadcaster RTL to replace Niki Lauda as an expert F1 pundit.
Asked if his ambassador role will make it hard to criticise Mercedes, Rosberg told Bild: "My contract as a team ambassador expires at the end of the year, so I will be totally independent.
"It may be that I will become a Daimler ambassador next year, but that will not stop me being completely neutral and commenting critically on the races.
"Niki managed to do it as a member of the team, so in my situation I can as well," Rosberg added.