Flying Scotsman Paul di Resta is on track for grand prix glory. He’s a win waiting to happen. A surefire success story.

Dub him what you may.

The endorsement of that towering potential, widely felt if not too willingly aired around grudging grands prix paddocks, where rivals are given little or no praise, has come from an international race superstar.

That is the opinion of Allan McNish, twice a winner of the French classic Le Mans 24-hour marathon, US Le Mans series champion three times, ex-Formula driver and now a highly respected BBC radio pundit. A legend in his own right.

He may be a fellow Scot, but there is no biased nationalistic pride or jingoism on show here, only a genuine appreciation that Di Resta really is a future force to be reckoned with, set to climb his way up the championship ladder, a target to be treasured by the top teams.

I have pre-empted McNish’s view for a long time and frequently hammered home my admiration both for Di Resta’s skill at high speed and in the closest of battles and his laidback attitude.

This fast-rising star clocked the finest performance of his short Formula One career with a fighting fourth place last time out in Bahrain. And he could well have been third if his tyres hadn’t worn enough to slow him in the closing stages.

It was a show of spirit and determination that outshone his fourth place, his previous best, a year ago in Singapore. Clearly there is more to come. Lots.

And an impressed McNish has been moved to hail the 27-year-old’s immaculate race in Bahrain and liken him to tartan hero Sir Jackie Stewart, three times the world champion with 27 victories.

It hoisted Di Resta to eighth spot in the championship with 20 points with the promise of more to come.

“Paul drove like the old Jackie Stewart,” said a delighted and openly admiring McNish. “He did it like he looked as if he was driving slowly but was actually going very fast.”

He added that Di Resta, now getting the best out of what was Force India’s down-the-grid car, has the talent to challenge for a championship crown. “If someone gives him the right machinery, he can fight for the world title,” he said.

McNish added: “He’s still young, but that result in Bahrain, when he narrowly missed out on his first podium, will give him a lot of confidence and belief in what he can do. I think he has developed and grown up and he has a lot of great years ahead. I would say a podium is on the cards this year. And that’s not being unrealistic. Maybe in Barcelona this Sunday.”

I’ll second that.