Max Verstappen faces a tough battle with his team-mate Sergio Perez, who has an advantage for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
That's the view of former Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who has been watching the dynamic between the two Red Bull racers with interest. Both have won races already this season, but Verstappen is currently the man who has the edge early in this title race.
Just one point separated them after the first two races, with both winning one apiece and finishing runner-up in the other. The fastest lap point secured in Saudi Arabia meant the defending champion was the man with the slender advantage heading into the Australian Grand Prix.
And he would make sure to extend it. Verstappen avoided trouble in a chaotic Melbourne race to wrestle the lead back from the Mercedes pair who overtook him on the first lap to take the chequered flag.
Perez also enjoyed a good race in Australia, but was hampered by his starting position. He had started from the pit lane thanks to a qualifying spin and despite the decision to take new engine components under parc ferme conditions – the Mexican managed to recover to fifth place.
Fittipaldi is backing Perez to close the gap again next time out in Azerbaijan. He has a penchant for performing well on street circuits and the Brazilian double champion thinks he will have the edge over Verstappen in Baku as a result.
"His style of driving fits very well to street races," Fittipaldi told MyBettingSites. "His record in street races has always been very good. When driving a street race you have to be fast and precise and you can't make any mistakes because the walls and the barriers are there.
"It is a very difficult technique to master driving fast in a street race and he is doing that really well." Fittipaldi also believes the prospect of a genuine title challenge this season will also provide a carrot for the Mexican to chase.
He added: "Now, Perez is going to be 110% motivated because he has the chance to win the championship. And he knows that. He knows that he has a chance to be the champion. I'm sure that he will give it his all now because he believes that he can win."
