Sir Jackie Stewart believes Mark Webber will be a far more credible Formula One world champion than Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel if Fernando Alonso is denied his moment in history.
This year's championship boils down to a one-race showdown in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, with Alonso holding a narrow eight-point advantage over Webber, with Vettel a further seven points adrift.
With Lewis Hamilton also in the mix, albeit 24 points behind and in need of a miracle, it is an enthralling scenario which no-one seems able to call.
But as far as triple world champion Stewart is concerned, the Scot feels Webber has all the right credentials to inherit an honourable title.
"Sebastian is going to win the world championship one year, whether it's this year, next year or one of the following years," Stewart told Press Association Sport in the Yas Marina circuit paddock.
"His talent is superb, and he is only 23. I know he doesn't want to hear this, but he will be a better world champion in a couple of years.
"I lost the world championship to Graham Hill in 1968 in the last race because of a mechanical failure.
"I was leading that race and I would have been world champion, but I wouldn't have been as good a world champion. Graham was a better world champion.
"For me, to carry the dignity of the sport, to carry Formula One on a global basis, to carry motor sport as a whole around the world as champion, Sebastian has some way to go to be able to do that.
"It's not just about being a diplomat or a great ambassador - with Sebastian he has great charm, he is young and he is a good story.
"But I think Mark could achieve that better at 34 years of age. I remember what I was like when I was 23 and I remember the man I was at 34."
Stewart is far from writing off double world champion Alonso, in particular as he feels Ferrari's failure to win the constructors' title that was won by Red Bull will only fuel their desire to see the Spaniard crowned.
"Ferrari desperately want to do it because they've not won the constructors'," added the 71-year-old.
"To get the drivers' championship is absolutely paramount for them, so they will put everything into it.
"Alonso is the best equipped to do the job. He's more experience, more knowledge, and on the track he is very good at man-management.
"My feeling is he will be tough to beat, but then he doesn't have to win the race, which means Mark has to win it.
"I would be very disappointed if Red Bull do not win the drivers' as well as the constructors'.
"And to do that Mark is going to have to be ahead of Sebastian, and both of them know that."