Lotus expect to finalise an investment deal imminently and are confident Kimi Raikkonen will decide to stay on next season, according to the Formula One team's principal Eric Boullier.
"Yes, I am (confident). He loves this team. He likes to be here and he likes the environment we created for him," the Frenchman told reporters after Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.
"I understand he needs to be reassured about the strength of the team financially, the technical challenge we have to face for next year... it's normal."
Boullier said he expects new investment, first announced in June, to be finalised by next week's Italian Grand Prix to put the team on a secure footing.
Raikkonen, the 2007 champion who is out of contract at the end of the year and has been linked to other top teams, indicated at Spa that his salary had not been fully paid and Lotus knew what had to be resolved before any talks could begin.
Boullier said the issues alluded to by Raikkonen, who won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and is currently fourth in the standings, are being addressed."They are solvable if we can put in place the package we want to put in place," he said.
"There is a lot of effort in this team to compete at the highest level. Obviously you need to establish then another strategy once you reach the first step. It's like playing in the Premier League, fighting for some wins and let's say top three position in the championship.
"But if you want then to be consistently (successful)