Stoffel Vandoorne believes he is strong enough to lead McLaren if Fernando Alonso decides to call it a day with the Woking-Based outfit.
The prospect of racing with Renault power next season has tilted the balance in favour of Alonso extending his stay at McLaren, at least for another year.
But the Spaniard has yet to sign a contract, and if the two-time world champion ultimately decides to move on, Vandoorne, who appears to have raised his game in the last couple of races, is ready to pick up the leading baton.
"A hundred percent! I think everything is going in the good direction," Vandoorne told Racer.
"The team relies a lot on me, because I spend a lot of time in the factory as well with the aerodynamicists, in the simulator, with the other technical guys.
"So for sure [I feel ready to lead]. I mean, Fernando is not going to continue forever so how long he will stay in F1, if he will stay with us, I don't know.
"I'm just pushing from my side, not thinking too much about my teammate to be honest and to really trying to prepare for the future."
McLaren's deal with Renault will provide the team with a package in 2018 theoretically similar to the one enjoyed by front-runner Red Bull Racing.
Vandoorne views the winning Milton Keynes-based outfit as the de facto benchmark to which McLaren will compare itself next season.
Does the Begian believe McLaren can beat Red Bull Racing in 2018?
"I hope we can, yes. How big a step of performance we will make next year is difficult to say," says the 25-year-old Belgian.
"I think it will definitely be better and for sure Red Bull is a big benchmark for us, so I think it should be our aim to be very close with them but still we have to wait and see.
"It will already be a big step forward. On some circuits we will be close but I think we need to wait and see how we progress."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
