Three-time
Formula One world champion Niki Lauda has tipped
Lewis Hamilton to follow in his footsteps, following the Briton's comeback victory in Sunday's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
Hamilton was dropped to fifth after his McLaren team opted not to pit him under the safety car caused by
Timo Glock's sizeable accident, but the Briton picked off the cars ahead of him to reclaim the lead eleven laps from home and take a second successive victory that elevated him to sole ownership of the world championship lead.
The race had elements of Hamilton's victory at Silverstone two weeks previously as he pulled away from the field in the early stages, but was turned on its head with
McLaren's pit gaffe, which left the second-year driver to pit under 'green flag' conditions, dropping him behind
Nick Heidfeld,
Nelson Piquet Jr,
Felipe Massa and McLaren team-mate
Heikki Kovalainen.
Although the Finn put up little resistance to Hamilton's recovery - and Heidfeld pitted from the lead after also not stopping under the safety car - the Briton still had to catch and pass both Massa and Piquet on track. It was a task that he accomplished with a minimum of fuss and effort, despatching both men clinically at Hockenheim's slow hairpin.
"Last year, [Hamilton] was my favourite [for the title], but he screwed up in the last two races," Lauda told
Reuters, "I think he's got the message now.
"From
Silverstone, in a difficult race, and here, in a difficult race for him, he did an outstanding performance. He's on the right track and, if he continues like this, he's unbeatable. It was perfect, outstanding, Senna-type driving."
Lauda, who returned from retirement to claim his third title with McLaren in 1984 and now works as a commentator for German television, repeated the observations of another three-time champion,
Jackie Stewart, in suggesting that Hamilton needs to rid himself of distractions away from the track, but insisted that, at the top of their game, he and McLaren should win the title this season.
