Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko is hoping Max Verstappen can benefit from a "similar scenario" to Sebastian Vettel, when he won his first F1 drivers' championship in 2010.
The German won the final two rounds of the campaign that year to outlast Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and team-mate Mark Webber.
In the first — at Interlagos, where F1 is heading for this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix — which saw the Milton Keynes-based squad wrap up its first title, that season's constructors' championship.
Reflecting on that success to Sport Krone, Marko was nevertheless insistent that Vettel's triumph was the paramount achievement: "It’s incredible that it’s already been 15 years.
"This success was primarily good for the entire team. Every title has its own story, but the decisive factor back then was the success in the drivers’ world championship."
"Back then, he was behind Alonso and Webber in the championship standings when we went to Abu Dhabi. In the end, Sebastian was the one who benefited most. I'm hoping for a similar scenario this year."
Verstappen is attempting to overhaul the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who sit 36 and 35 points ahead, respectively, in the drivers' standings.
The Dutchman has come from 104 points adrift in just five rounds. With a further 116 on offer over the final four, the Red Bull driver still has an outside chance.
"Although things didn't go perfectly for us in Singapore and most recently in Mexico, we still managed to gain points on the respective leaders," Marko pointed out after second and third place finished for Verstappen at both races.
The 82-year-old added: "And now comes Brazil, where we took a crucial step towards the title last year."
McLaren continues to maintain its stance of equal treatment between Norris and Piastri, and Zak Brown has stated he would rather Verstappen win the title than play favourites between his drivers.
Although there is just one point between the papaya pair, Marko wonders if that neutrality will encourage the Australian, something that could ultimately be to his and Norris' detriment.
"But as I understand it, McLaren intends to give both drivers free rein until the very end," the Austrian said. "Perhaps that will spur Piastri on even more to fight his way back."
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