Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne says that Sebastian Vettel must calm down and be less agitated out on the race track if he wants to remain with the Scuderia beyond 2017.

Vettel failed to bring a win to the House of Maranello in 2016 and was out-performed by team mate Kimi Raikkonen on several occasions.

The four-time world champion was also called out this year for his numerous outbursts over the team's radio as he squawked about his peers' actions, an attitude which has led Ferrari's top brass to question the German's status with the Italian outfit.

At Ferrari's annual pre-Christmas briefing, Marchionne admitted that both Raikkonen and Vettel were under scrutiny with regard to their future.

"I admit we are looking around us for the future, by carefully analysing the others' situations," Marchionne said.

"That doesn't mean we don't have confidence in our drivers, but it's fair to say they are under scrutiny.

"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?

"With Vettel it doesn't make sense to talk about renewal now, we must first understand if he feels comfortable with us in 2017.

"We must give him a winning car, otherwise talking about the future is useless. He wants to win with us, we know that. Can we guarantee that for him?

"In exchange, he must drive with composure, be more calm, less agitated. He must think about winning on the track and beat the other cars, not about getting into personal feuds."

2016 team-by-team review: Part two

2016 team-by-team review: Part one

Andrew Green: Force India's smooth operator

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Las Vegas GP: Thursday's action in pictures

The opening day of running at the Las Vegas GP was a smooth but chilly…

4 hours ago

Williams' headaches persist into Vegas practice

Williams is continuing to fight uphill battles this weekend in Las Vegas as a knock-on…

5 hours ago

Ferrari's Sainz 'not satisfied with where we are' in Vegas

It was a solid start to the Las Vegas weekend for Ferrari with Carlos Sainz…

6 hours ago

Norris labels McLaren long-run pace ‘shocking’ in chilly Vegas

Lando Norris didn’t hold back in his assessment of McLaren’s performance on the opening day…

7 hours ago

Hamilton delighted with ‘consistently strong day’ in Vegas

Lewis Hamilton was particularly happy with his opening day of running at the Las Vegas…

9 hours ago

Verstappen stuck with 'draggy' rear wing for Vegas

Red Bull fears that its prospects for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix - which…

9 hours ago