Sebastian Vettel has revealed talks over a new deal at Ferrari have been put on hold.
Vettel is instead set to to enter the final year of his Ferrari contract without putting in place an agreement to extend his stay at Maranello.
"We are all fairly busy, focusing on the last four races and focusing in particular on next year," Vettel told reporters at the US GP when asked if a new deal was imminent.
The four-time world champion signed a three-year deal when he moved from Red Bull to Ferrari in 2015 with his current contract due to expire at the end of next season.
Amid a deeply disappointing season for the Scuderia, who are without a win in the last 12 months, Vettel's future with the team has been cast in considerable doubt following an unexpected rebuke over the Japanese GP weekend by boss Maurizio Arrivabene.
Despite reports earlier in the year that a contract extension had been agreed, Vettel now says talks are on hold while the team prepare for the 2017 rules 'refresh'.
"I don't think it's that important to look into details such as my contract," he said. "It's fine for next year. There are a lot of things happening back in the factory, I know we are very busy and that's where l want the focus to be."
Both Ferrari drivers will start the new season with less than a year left on their contracts after Kimi Raikkonen signed, for the second successive year, a 12-month extension in the summer.
But it's Vettel's future which is the centre of paddock intrigue after Arrivabene's surprise criticism at Suzuka.
"Sebastian today has a contract with us, we have work to do this year, and also the next. During the season we will see," Arrivabene told Italy's Sky F1.
"Sebastian just needs to focus on the car. Everybody has an objective. I have, the team has, Sebastian has, everybody has. So it's right everybody has to earn their position and salary."
Reacting to Arrivabene's comments, Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle reflected: "I'm beginning to think Sebastian Vettel won't be in Formula 1 for the long haul. He came so young, he broke so many records. I just watch him at work and he's lost his mojo."
"That was a choreographed interview, for a purpose, and the words were extremely strong there. I imagine Vettel will react to that very badly. I think what they are trying to tell him is, you drive the car and we'll sort the team out."