Nico Rosberg says current championship leader Max Verstappen is "a giant", but the 2016 F1 world champion still believes that his former arch-rival Lewis Hamilton will bring the crown home again this season.
Rosberg is as enthralled and captivated by the thrilling battle for supremacy between F1's top protagonists as the next fan, but the German evidently views events through the prism of his professional experience.
Verstappen's win in the US Grand Prix last weekend - his eighth of the 2021 season - has boosted the Dutchman's edge over Hamilton in the Drivers' standings to 12.5 points with five rounds to go.
But all is still to play for between the two drivers and their respective teams, Red Bull and Mercedes.
"It’s crazy," Rosberg told Sky Germany. "The cars are exactly the same, the drivers are on the same level and are in a league of their own.
"Nobody can keep up with them. It’s going to be so close in the last few races, so much is going to happen. It just can’t be topped."
Rosberg reckons the fight will do down to the wire, but one would be hard pressed to hazard a guess as to who will come out on top at Yas Marina in December.
"I can’t predict how it’s going to turn out after Austin. Of course, I can assess from the outside what kind of performance they are doing.
"It’s such a high level between the two drivers – the highest level that Formula 1 has ever seen. Phenomenal, huge respect."
Rosberg isn't holding back his praise for Verstappen, but the former Mercedes charger has a hunch that Hamilton will prevail at the end of the day.
"Somehow I would still tend to lean towards Lewis," he said. "Through experience, and because he normally always wins in the end.
"It’s so difficult to beat him. Somehow I think he is can still do it.
"But Max is a giant right now."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
