Maurizio Arrivabene says he is using the prospect of a new Ferrari contract as motivation for Kimi Raikkonen.
Raikkonen's current deal expires at the end of the season, but has an option for a further year. Arrivabene challenged Raikkonen early in the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend to earn a new contract through his performances, and when asked if the Finn's second place increased his chances of staying or if Ferrari holds an interest in Lewis Hamilton, Arrivabene replied: “Does Lewis Hamilton call you? Because he never calls me.
“Every driver here in the paddock wants to drive for Ferrari, this is normal. Even guys that were quite a lot of time world champion. I’m happy with the drivers that we have. This does not mean that I am going to sign with Kimi tomorrow. We are very clear, I repeat again: I said to Kimi ‘Look, It depends on your performance' and he has demonstrated that he’s a great driver.
"So if you ask me now, does he deserve to renew the option, now today I am going to say yes. But if I am going to say yes, I don’t want the driver to fall asleep. So I want to keep him up. Kimi is giving the best when he is a bit in trouble. This is a psychological approach. So the paper at the moment is white. Sometimes I have to take the pen, then take it back. And Kimi is going to the podium."
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