Nico Rosberg has admitted he found Max Verstappen to be his "most annoying" rival on the Formula One track but insists he remains a big fan of the Red Bull star.
Verstappen was regarded as one of the closest threats to Lewis Hamilton's world championship reign before the start of the 2020 season was indefinitely delayed.
The 22-year-old has been tipped to become a world champion in future, while also earning himself a reputation for being a feisty racer, with comparisons to Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.
Rosberg, who sensationally quit the sport just days after securing his only world title in 2016, had numerous run-ins with Verstappen on the track while he was at Mercedes.
And the German, now working for Sky Sports F1 as a guest pundit, has revealed how he feared being knocked out of the race when going up against Verstappen.
"I'm a huge fan of his, he's an amazing driver and so good for F1, so much fun to watch," Rosberg said on the Sky F1 Vodcast.
"But my god, having him around in the races! The risk of a DNF [Did Not Finish] for myself, it increases like tenfold.
"On my way to the championship, I had him around me every race in the last four races. He passed me I think in three of those four races, in a tussle."
Verstappen remains the youngest driver in F1 history after making his debut for Toro Rosso at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. He memorably won on his Red Bull debut at Barcelona in 2016.