Damon Hill is fully expecting the battle for this year's Formula One world title to start to boil over at this weekend's British Grand Prix.
Five drivers, spearheaded by a British one-two in Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, are separated by just 29 points as the season reaches its halfway point at Silverstone on Sunday.
The fact the past two world champions and McLaren team-mates are in front, just six points apart, adds to the spice of the occasion, one Hill feels "is going to be even better than it has ever been before".
But, with Red Bull duo Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in the mix, along with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, 1996 world champion Hill expects this year's title battle to go right down to the wire.
"It's just been on simmer for the moment. Now it's going to start to boil over," said Hill.
"This could be the start of the rest of the season. Traditionally, with Silverstone smack in the middle, the preliminaries are over.
"From now on the clock is definitely ticking and you are going to run out of opportunities.
"If you're not in the frame now you are going to be watching it slip out of your fingers.
"Now they're warmed up. They all know where they are positioned, and there's only room for one guy to go through."
Speaking at Silverstone today, the president of the British Racing Drivers' Club is predicting a thrilling showdown between the two home-grown heroes on Sunday.
Hamilton treated his fans to a stunning victory in 2008, and is determined to savour such success again, whilst in stark contrast Button has not been on the podium in 10 attempts on home soil.
"Your closest, most significant competitor is your team-mate," added Hill.
"But when you've a team-mate as good as Jenson, it's not a foregone conclusion.
"Lewis has the mindset of a driver, under normal state of affairs, that sees him being first and the rest second, which is great, one way of looking at it and what you'd expect from a competitor.
"But perhaps Jenson is a little bit more opportunistic, will be slightly more mature and realistic about things, but will not be letting Lewis get away with anything.
"So between the two British drivers, in possibly the best car, you are going to have a very close, fascinating battle, which is great for everyone."
Hill does concede to being surprised at how well Button has fared at McLaren this season, drawing on Sir Jackie Stewart's remark at the start of the campaign that he was "stepping into the lion's den".
"I am really pleased for Jenson," said Hill.
"He's obviously got enormous talent, but his career was almost derailed in the first couple of seasons in Formula One.
"But he is someone who seems to be relishing having made the right decision and being in the right place against everybody else's better judgment.
"He has proved everyone wrong by going to McLaren. People were thinking 'well that's a bit of a brave move, good luck to you'.
"But he has shown his quality and maturity in depth as a driver.
"What is really important and sometimes forgotten is his attitude and personality have added something to McLaren as well.
"They needed someone like Jenson who is laid back, but is seriously competitive. He has a well-balanced attitude towards things.
"I actually wouldn't be surprised if he won the title again, but it's impossible to call it right now anyway.
"Thankfully it's an open championship, and that's what we want to see as fans.
"For years we watched it knowing you could bet your house on who would win."
Hill also appreciates that Button and Hamilton have helped elevate the status of the British Grand Prix over the years, and will ensure another bumper 120,000 crowd on Sunday.
"The BRDC champions and celebrates British motor sport success, and without that this track wouldn't be what it is," remarked Hill.
"Without British drivers out there winning, and when you haven't got a national hero, it is very hard to put bums on seats.
"The drivers have been doing their bit year on year, ever since this sport began, and they drive the success of the sport in the UK. We know we're very fortunate."