Ferrari say they are “glancing around” at their driver choices past 2017 and need Sebastian Vettel to be “more quiet” next season.
The four-time best on the planet’s agreement with Ferrari runs out toward the end of next season and the German persevered through a troublesome, winless season this year.
President Sergio Marchionne said: “With Vettel it doesn’t bode well to discuss recharging now.
“We must first understand if he feels comfortable with us in 2017.”
He added: “We must give him a winning car, otherwise talking about the future is useless.
“We know Vettel wants to win with us. Can we guarantee it? In return, he must drive with composure, be more calm, less agitated.”
Marchionne’s comments are a pivot to Vettel’s propensity a year ago to wind up distinctly perceptibly bothered on the radio amid race ends of the week – and particularly to the Mexican Grand Prix, when his outrage at the driving of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen drove him to dispatch an exclamation loaded tirade coordinated at race executive Charlie Whiting. He said, “Vettel just needs to focus on the car. He is a person who gives so much, and sometimes this means he is interested in a bit of everything – so sometimes you have to re-focus him, remind him to be focused on the main job.”
The agreement of Vettel’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen additionally comes up for reestablishment next season. The Finn finished 2017 firmly after a troublesome begin and out-qualified Vettel 11-10 throughout the year.
Marchionne said: “We have two world champions and it’s up to us to give both a winning car. Then we’ll see what happens after 2017.”
He said the decision of what to do after 2017 was a “work in progress. I admit we are looking around us.
“I’m happy with Raikkonen’s season – he will race again in 2017, but what about after that? Does he want to retire or carry on? Maurizio Arrivabene said in regard to Vettel: “It is only right that anyone, no matter who it is, earns their place and their salary.”
