If Sebastian Vettel wishes to remain at Ferrari after the current season, then he can have a new contract, Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne said on Sunday in Austria.
Vettel's current contract expires at the end of the year and as of yet, nothing has been signed to extend that, but Marchionne insists the decision is in the German's hands.
"I made it very clear that if he wants to stay then we’ll just renew it," Marchionne told reporters. "It's up to him."
Ferrari are in much better shape this season, having won three races to Mercedes' five, whilst Vettel heads the drivers' standings by 20 points to Lewis Hamilton.
That gap has increased at the last two races of the season, with Vettel coming tantalisingly close to victory on Sunday in Austria as he crossed the line just 0.6s behind winner Valtteri Bottas, which has left Marchionne feeling "happier" about Ferrari's prospects this year.
"It was very close," he added. "We are there and our German friends [Mercedes] know it. They can feel us breathing down their necks, but we will cut this little gap [in the constructors].
"I am much happier than I was in the past. The boys know we have started the job and we must carry it through to the end."
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