Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger has tipped Sebastian Vettel to become a multiple world champion.
Berger made a speedy exit from Monza on the back of a scooter, but not before extolling the virtues of Formula One's youngest ever race winner by taking the chequered flag in today's Italian Grand Prix.
In an astonishing weekend for the grid's smallest team, despite the backing of billionaire Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz, Vettel gave the marque their maiden pole and win.
Based in Faenza, quite remarkably Toro Rosso are the first Italian- based team - other than Ferrari - to win a race since 1957 in the days of the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio and Maserati.
Backed by Ferrari engines, it was not the win the Prancing Horse's adoring Tifosi were hoping for, but on home soil, it will do.
For Vettel, it was the culmination to a day he has hailed as the best of his life, and the sky would appear to be the limit.
Austrian Berger, who spent six seasons with Ferrari during his 14-year career, said: "I'm not into making comparisons.
"But what I do know is this guy will win a lot of races, and a lot of championships."
High praise indeed for young German Vettel, nicknamed 'Baby Schumi' in deference to seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher.
Now working with Ferrari as an advisor, Schumacher did not quite go as far as Berger with his remarks, but was still full of praise.
"He has the potential to be world champion, but it's a long and rocky road," said Schumacher, who is close friends with Vettel.
"I've known him since he was small, we've played football together, and so we are closer than I am with other drivers.
"I was crossing my fingers the car would keep going and he would bring it home. In the end, what he did today was absolutely first class. Without question I enjoyed it.
"To make no mistakes in these conditions and dominate the race from the start, and in a car that is not the fastest, shows he is an extremely strong driver in heavy rain."
It was a day Vettel will never forget, taking victory at the age of 21 years and 74 days, beating the previous best record of Fernando Alonso by just over 10 months.
A euphoric Vettel said: "It was a fantastic race and a fantastic weekend.
"As for the podium ceremony, it was unbelievable and this is the best day of my life. I will never forget these feelings.
"It is better than I had ever expected. I couldn't believe it when it kept saying 'P1' on my board.
"But I kept my focus, kept pushing so as not to lose concentration, and it has been a perfect weekend.
"A big thank you to everyone in the team for their great work. After a poor start to the season, we have got better and better."
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