Lotus team boss Eric Boullier has admitted that the Enstone squad is still walking a financial tightrope while it waits for an injection of funds, but he remains optimistic that the situation will sort itself out in time to retain Kimi Raikkonen for 2014.

The Finn is a well-publicised target for Red Bull Racing as it looks to replace Mark Webber and suggestions that he has not been paid by his current employer – allied to overt conversations between manager Steve Robertson and senior RBR figures in Hungary – do little to quell speculation that he remains a rival to Daniel Ricciardo when it comes to partnering Sebastien Vettel in 2014.

Having admitted that payment was a little late in arriving, Boullier insisted earlier this month that Raikkonen had now received what he was due, but the Finn appeared unwilling to discuss the situation when questioned by Sky Sports at the Hungaroring.

Pressed on the subject of whether ongoing money problems would drive him from Lotus next season, Raikkonen shrugged before claiming that 'there is a certain point where a decision will be made', but refused to be drawn on the finer details of the situation.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has already said that the Finn's salary would not be an issue for the Milton Keynes operation – hardly surprising given that his reported base wage, at €3m according to Business Book GP, is substantially lower than either Vettel (€12m) or Webber (€10m) – although Raikkonen is understood to be on a substantial performance bonus, which is what hit Lotus hardest last season.

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