Mika Hakkinen has said that 2016 championship leader Nico Rosberg might finally be ready to win his first Formula 1 title this year.
Hakkinen, the two-time world champion of 1998 and 1999, told the German-language Spox in an interview that he has known Rosberg since the Mercedes driver was just a boy.
"I remember him walking around as a four or five-year-old with a small helmet in his hand saying 'Goodbye, I'm going to drive my go-kart'," said Hakkinen, who was once managed by Rosberg's Finnish father Keke.
"When I see him now, I'm very proud of him."
Rosberg, 30, was beaten to the crown both in 2014 and 2015 by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, but the German is now on a run of six consecutive victories and is leading the 2016 standings by 36 points.
"The talent was always there," Hakkinen said. "But now he has the goal clearly in mind that says with conviction 'Yes, I want to be world champion!'"
There are parallels between their respective careers, as it took both drivers six years to win a grand prix, while Hakkinen was 30 - like Rosberg is now - when he broke through for his first world championship.
"Probably not everything is explained by chance," said Hakkinen.
"In everything, but especially in Formula 1, it takes time before you are ready to win. Put it this way - even if your own head says you want to be world champion, it doesn't mean that you are really ready for that.
"This step is made not just like that, but with all your conviction and every fibre of your body, and is more challenging than most people believe. So my answer is yes, he is ready for the world title."
The season continues on Sunday with the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
