Damon Hill has backed one team to reach the level of the dominant Red Bull before current runners-up Ferrari.
Max Verstappen led Sergio Perez in Red Bull’s first qualifying one-two of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix.
But speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the session, Hill warned the Bulls that one of their rivals is on the march.
Ferrari have been the biggest threat to the reigning champions so far this season, winning the Australian Grand Prix last time out through Carlos Sainz.
Sainz and Charles Leclerc picked up maximum points for the Scuderia at Albert Park after Verstappen retired with a brake issue and Perez only managed fifth.
That narrowed the gap at the top of the standings to just four points (97 vs 93) heading to Suzuka.
However, Sainz had to settle for fourth on the grid, while Leclerc was a desperately disappointing eighth.
Sainz’s 1:28.682 in Q3 was just under half a second adrift of Verstappen’s pole time, an alarming deficit.
Hill had predicted that the 29-year old would repeat his Melbourne win this weekend, but it looks a tall order from here.
Damon Hill backs McLaren to surpass Ferrari in Red Bull chase
Hill reckons that, based on McLaren’s current ‘trajectory’, they should be able to fight with Red Bull before anybody else.
He’s been impressed by the progress the team has made since the back end of last year, and has seen more encouraging signs in Japan.
Lando Norris will start third for the Woking outfit, with Oscar Piastri on the row behind in sixth.
McLaren’s 2023 season was transformed by an upgrade at the British Grand Prix as they propelled themselves towards the front.
Between them, Norris and Piastri only amassed six points finishes from the first nine rounds.
However, they would score a combined nine podiums for the 12-time champions between Silverstone and the end of the year.
That was enough to finish fourth in the championship, and they’re currently one place better off in this year’s table, having leapfrogged Mercedes.
Hill said: “As far as McLaren go, you’d have to say their trajectory, of all the teams, is probably more inclined towards catching Red Bull than anyone else.
“They have been making a lot of progress over the last six months, and they did a fine performance again today.”
Norris and Piastri attract interest from rival teams
Norris, who has now 107 race starts under his belt, and Piastri, only in his second year in the sport, have both shone for the team of late.
There’s currently just a point separating the duo in the championship, with the latter fractionally ahead.
Inevitably, given their relative youth and performance levels, they have attracted covetous glances from other teams.
Both Norris and Piastri have been suggested as possible replacements should Verstappen leave Red Bull.
Mercedes are going all-out to sign the world champion as they seek a replacement for the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
Incidentally, Hill reckons that Norris will ‘definitely’ be in contention for that drive too despite signing a long-term extension with McLaren in the winter.
It remains to be seen whether Zak Brown can fend off the interest in the duo as his team continues their advance.
McLaren may hope to regularly compete for race wins before the regulations change in 2026, which may shake up the running order.
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