Max Verstappen has the potential to match Lewis Hamilton on pace and ability, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
The Dutchman has been considered the next big thing in Formula 1 since he arrived in 2015 and has steadily made progress since joining the senior team part-way through 2016 taking five wins so far.
Now as the team leader at Red Bull, Verstappen needs to take the final step and challenge Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel for the championship, but even if he didn't Horner knows it is only a matter of time.
"Max is the future. He is 21 years of age and he is evolving," the Briton told the Daily Mail explaining why he wouldn't swap him for the Mercedes driver.
"Both he and Lewis are phenomenal drivers, Lewis is one of the best of all time.
"Max has won Grands Prix but is yet to compete for a championship, however, in terms of all-round ability, race craft and speed, Max is capable of going shoulder to shoulder with Lewis."
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The Red Bull boss also pointed to Verstappen's record in the second half of 2018, which included 10 podiums and two wins, as prove that gap is closing.
"Max was top scorer behind Hamilton in the second half of last season, so that shows how well he was driving," Horner said.
He also believes the two men are quite similar in terms of their connection with the fans.
"Max was criticised in some quarters when he showed emotion after the race with [Esteban] Ocon but at least there was passion. People relate to that kind of emotion," he argued.
"That is why he has such a big following. We don't want vanilla characters. Lewis is a Marmite kind of guy. That is good.
"It goes to the heart of what Formula 1 must look to be post-2020 when the new regulations come in. The drivers must be the stars of the show. They must get out of the cars exhausted. Technology plays too big a role at this moment in time."
