Hill: Irvine needs to win in Hungary

The Ulsterman already has an eight point lead over his McLaren rival with six races remaining, but ex-champion Damon Hill believes a few more could see Irvine all the way to the championship.

'If Eddie can extend his lead here that might well just be the safety margin he needs to see him through to the end of the year because he is going to need every point he has,' said Hill.

But he also warned the fellow Brit not to get complacent with his advantage because McLaren still have the best car.

'Eddie has got a tenuous grip on the championship and he has to make sure it is not a temporary one,' said Hill.

'If I was Mika I would be feeling positive. I would be feeling all he needs is for half-a-chance for things to go right and he will be there.

'In Eddie's place I would probably push Ferrari quite hard to make some improvements to the car. I feel that the Ferrari is perhaps not quite as good as the McLaren.

But Hill, who won the world title in 1996, says Irvine faces as big a test personally as his car does to make it to the finish.

'Anyone can walk on a beam when it is six inches off the ground, but the higher it goes the more difficult it becomes. There is a bigger risk of failing.

'It has been great for the last two races for Eddie. He has had two wins, is leading the championship and all that by his own admission it has really landed on his lap.

'He might be moving into the phase where he will be conscious that he can either win it or lose it and that brings more pressure.

'He is very good at deflecting pressure or making it look like there is no pressure but there will be enormous pressure from Ferrari, Italy and enormous expectation as well now that he is leading.

'It gets interesting from this stage onwards.'