Kimi Raikkonen is driving for his Ferrari future after team principal Maurizio Arrivabene revealed he would not rush into contract talks with the Finn.
Raikkonen finished second behind Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix to secure his first podium since returning to Ferrari at the beginning of last season.
And the 2007 world champion will need to produce more of the same if he is to retain his drive for 2016.
"We were very, very clear and we meet time and again and I said to Kimi 'look it depends on your performance' and he has demonstrated that he is a great driver, so if you are asking me now if he deserves the option today then yes," team principal Maurizio Arrivabene told reporters in Bahrain.
"But I don't want the driver to fall asleep, 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 and then take it back and Kimi is going to the podium."
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton is another driver whose contract expires at the end of the season, with some linking the former McLaren man with a switch to Ferrari.
"Did Lewis Hamilton call you because he never called me," quipped Arrivabene. "Every driver in the paddock wants to drive for Ferrari.
"I am happy with the drivers that are here, but this doesn't mean that I am going to sign tomorrow with Kimi."