While the rest of the motor racing world enthuses about Lewis Hamilton, ten time grand prix winner and team co-owner Gerhard Berger has saved his superlatives for another young charger.
The Austrian, who alongside Dietrich Mateschitz runs the Toro Rosso outfit, thinks the Hamilton hype has put in the shade the laudable performance so far this year of Williams’ Nico Rosberg.
“I have nothing against Hamilton,” Berger explained in an interview with Sport Bild.
“He is a great talent, he is doing everything right, but it must be said that he is in a really good car.
“But what I have seen Nico do with the Williams has been deeply impressive.
“The car is clearly difficult to drive but he is nonetheless faster than the works Toyotas who have the same engine,” Berger said.
The 47-year-old, who famously was teammate to champions Ayrton Senna at McLaren and Nigel Mansell at Ferrari, said German Rosberg had managed to build on the foundation of his first season in formula one last year — a task not always achieved by a rookie driver.
“Nico’s performance curve has always gone upwards,” Berger insisted, “and it should not be forgotten that he is still the youngest driver in the field.
“I absolutely see championship potential in him.”