Arrivabene: Vettel must earn Ferrari future
Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has hinted Sebastian Vettel still has to earn his place in the team past the 2017 season.
Four-time F1 champion Vettel joined Ferrari on a three-year deal ahead of the 2015 season, and won three races in his first year in the Italian team.
He's had a tougher time of it in 2016, however, and currently trails teammate Kimi Raikkonen by seven points, having finished 128 points ahead last year.
Asked whether Ferrari would boost Vettel's confidence with a contract renewal, like it had done in the past with Michael Schumacher, Arrivabene told Sky Sports Italy: "I do not think that we can conquer his confidence with renewals.
"Today a lot of things are changed, what had worked with Michael might not necessarily work with Sebastian.
"Sebastian 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.
"He does not do it in a polemical spirit, but because he is totally immersed in the family that is the Ferrari team."
Arrivabene then said that Vettel's contractual situation will be evaluated in 2017.
"Sebastian now has a contract with us. We work together this year and again next year. Then during the next season we'll see.
"Each of us has goals, I have them, the team has them, Sebastian has them, we all have them. So it is only right that anyone, no matter who it is, earns their place and their salary."
Additional reporting by Roberto Chinchero
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