Ferrari to delay Kimi Raikkonen contract talks

Ferrari boss Maurizio Arrivabene has revealed that talks with Kimi Raikkonen over a new deal have been put on hold in order to keep him fully motivated until the end of the season.

The Finnish driver's current deal runs out at the end of the year, although Ferrari have the option to retain him in 2016 alongside Sebastian Vettel should they wish.

However, despite Raikkonen producing his best performance of the campaign so far in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix to finish second, Arrivabene admits that no decision over his future will be made any time soon.

"He has demonstrated he's a great driver so if you're asking now if he deserves to renew the option, I'm going to say yes," BBC Sport quotes the Ferrari chief as saying. "But if I'm going to say yes, I don't want a driver to fall asleep.

"Kimi is giving his best when he's in a bit of trouble. This is the psychological approach. The paper at the moment is white, OK? Sometimes I have to take the pen and then take it back, and Kimi is going to the podium."

Raikkonen is currently fourth in the overall drivers' standings.