Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen could compete for the F1 drivers' championship with Racing Bulls, arguing the Faenza-based squad has a better "base" to build from than Red Bull.
The six-time grand prix winner feels a "better compromise" can be struck with the energy drinks manufacturer's second team's car, making it more versatile across an F1 season.
How Verstappen might fare at Racing Bulls has been widely discussed over the course of the current campaign because, whilst the Dutchman is third in the standings, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar have both scored considerably more points than Yuki Tsunoda in the second RB21.
The Japanese driver has taken a meagre nine points since being promoted to Red Bull in place of Lawson after two rounds.
Over that span, the New Zealander has scored 20. Hadjar, off the back of a maiden podium at Zandvoort, has secured 37.
The disparity in points has grown to the extent that it is now being suggested Verstappen ought to spend a session in the VCARB 02 to help paint a clearer picture of relative performance between the two cars.
Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane shot down that idea at Zandvoort, but the suggestion that the four-time F1 drivers' champion might stand a better chance of further title glory in a Racing Bulls has nonetheless persisted.
It is a hypothetical Schumacher would back next season, when F1 overhauls its chassis and power unit regulations.
"It is so hard to estimate what is going to happen next year," the former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver told Sky Sport Germany's F1 podcast Backstage Boxengasse.
"The engines are the same at both Racing Bulls and Red Bull, but obviously, both also have the opportunity to build a great car.
"And I believe the base at Racing Bulls this year is almost better than Red Bull's."
The 50-year-old highlighted the wider operating window Racing Bulls is able to work with as a key factor in this thinking.
Red Bull has tended to produce cars with more extreme characteristics, which Verstappen prefers, but even the Dutchman has needed to smooth those sharp edges over the past couple of seasons as the Milton Keynes squad has begun to falter.
"I would almost go so far as to say that Max Verstappen could theoretically even compete for the world championship with that car," he added.
"I know I will be stoned again by some now, but I would almost say that, because the car has just a wider set-up, so you can do well with it on any circuit. And I think a better compromise can be found."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the Dutch GP but also look ahead to Monza! Lewis Hamilton's huge grid penalty is a lead discussion, as is the mountain Lando Norris now faces in the F1 drivers' title fight.
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