Lauda says Hamilton could be unbeatable

And Lauda, a former McLaren driver himself, reckons Hamilton is well on course to become world champion, so long as he maintains his form throughout the rest of the season.

"It was outstanding. Senna-type driving. Honestly." said Lauda.

"If he continues to drive like this, and not start fading like last year in the last couple of races, then he is going in the right direction, no question."

Lauda believes Hamilton, who now leads the world championship by four points, has raised his game since last year and that back-to-back wins will have given the McLaren driver the confidence to deliver more performances of a similar quality.

"Last year he was my favourite," said Lauda. "He screwed up in the last couple of races and therefore did not understand why he started as bad as he finished last year. But I think he's got the message now.

"From Silverstone in that difficult race, and here in this difficult race for him, he did an outstanding performance. So he is on the right track, and if he continues like this he is unbeatable."

Lauda also warned Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari, the team he won the 1975 and 1977 world titles with, that they must regroup quickly if they are to stop Hamilton running away with the title.

Asked if thoughts of retirement had affected the current world champion's performance in Hockenheim, Lauda replied: "I have no idea what he is thinking, what he is doing, but he will get his act together.

"But now you have to get it together at every race if you want to be world champion. That is the key thing, you have to drive clever now, take points and points and points and points, because in the end you need them all."