Fernando Alonso is backing Max Verstappen to win the world title this weekend in Abu Dhabi, insisting the Red Bull charger deserves the crown for his ability to drive "one step ahead" of all of his rivals.
Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will blast off the line on Sunday at Yas Marina tied for points, although the Dutchman officially leads the Drivers' championship, having one more win to his name this season than his fellow title contender.
The fierce fight between F1's two stars has inflamed passions among the sport's fans but also in the paddock, although one would be hard-pressed to predict the outcome of Sunday's battle royal.
Ahead of the thrilling showdown, Alonso sees a technical advantage for Mercedes, but the two-time world champion has been mesmerized by Verstappen's driving this season.
"Mercedes lately, I think, is a little bit [better] performing, and they won a couple of races now," said Alonso.
"But Max is driving, you know, in my opinion, one step ahead of all of us.
"We saw the [qualifying] lap in Jeddah, until he touched the wall in the last corner - that lap was coming from Max, not from the Red Bull.
"I think Mercedes deserve the Constructors' Championship, because the car is superior, and Max, maybe overall in the year, was driving one step ahead of everyone. He deserves it, in my opinion."
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel says he has a clear – personal – reason to support Verstappen this weekend.
"Michael [Schumacher] is my hero, so for that reason, I probably don't want Lewis to win," admitted the German.
"But the truth is they've both had a strong season and they are going into the last race with the opportunity to win this championship because they both deserve it.
"In a way, I'd be happy if Michael's record still stands, but even if Lewis wins, to me Michael is still the greatest.
"If Lewis can win one more, two more, three more, five more championships, it doesn't change anything for me.
"I get along with Lewis, but probably the gut says I want Max to win to keep Michael’s record alive. But my head is quite clear, in terms of may the better man win."
But Vettel's former Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo, who also raced alongside Verstappen at the Milton Keynes-based outfit, was one to steer clear of predicting the outcome of Sunday's battle as it's "so hard to read".
"I've stopped giving predictions!" said the Aussie. "At moments I've thought Max, other moments I've thought Lewis. It's so hard to read.
"Ultimately, it's really great for the sport that the fight's going down to the wire, equal on points - it's cool.
"You talk about a whole season, but ultimately, it's whoever has a better Abu Dhabi weekend. You break it down, it's whoever does better than the other, and they're gonna be crowned champ. It's that simple."
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz explained why in his view it made little sense to pick a winner.
"I'm not gonna comment personally, who's been my driver of the season, particularly because if I will say one, then one side will criticise me and say, 'No, Lewis has had a better car', and if I say Max…" he said.
"It's too polarised, so I just don't want to take a stance, because it doesn't make sense, looking at how polarised [it is]. But I think they have both done incredible seasons."
Predictably, Williams' George Russell came down on the side of his future Mercedes teammate.
"For me, I'd love to see Lewis win," said the Briton. "I think what he has achieved, especially recently, has been pretty exceptional.
"To even be in the fight altogether, when Red Bull had such a far superior car at the start of the year… when you look back, [Mercedes] managed to win, I think, three of the first four races, when Red Bull were clearly the quickest package out there.
"But Max has done an exceptional job and you can argue that they both deserve to win for different reasons. Hopefully, it's a clean and fair race, and the best man wins."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
