Prost: driver aids ban to help Hamilton

Hamilton enjoyed a sensational debut season with McLaren in 2007, going on to finish as runner-up in the championship, just one point behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

The so-called driver aids, such as traction control, have been banned from this year, and Prost believes that will only help Hamilton shine more.

"This year electronic aids will disappear so life will get harder for the drivers," Prost was quoted as saying by Autosprint magazine.

"But I'm convinced of one thing: contrary to what could be thought, Hamilton will draw an advantage from this change, and you know why? Because he's phenomenal.

"Last year he did something exceptional, but not so much for his performances, which were fantastic anyway. He was twice exceptional at a psychological level: first in the way he put up with the pressure of his debut, and then for the way he put up with the ever-increasing pressure for a season that went on until the last GP and with all the mess that had happened.

"Can you imagine? A rookie that resisted until the last race before giving up. And after all, let me tell you one thing: before starting winning championships, I lost some too, if you can remember that. But then, when I started..."

The Frenchman warned Hamilton, however, that new teammate Heikki Kovalainen will be hard to overshadow.

He added: "It's hard to make predictions about the drivers, but it's easier with the teams. It will be a fight between Ferrari and McLaren again, that's evident now already. Surprises are unlikely from this point of view.

"As for the drivers everything will be much more uncertain. Hamilton must not be complacent, as Kovalainen will certainly be a very tough cookie. With regards to the championship, the Finn looks definitely dangerous."