Wednesday 18 January at 14:35 : Jan.18 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is better than Sebastian Vettel.

That is the sensational claim of Hamilton's former nemesis and McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso.

Like Ferrari driver Alonso, Vettel is now a back-to-back world champion, while Briton Hamilton's only title was won in 2008.

But Spaniard Alonso thinks Hamilton is better than the Red Bull star.

"Lewis is so fast, aggressive, totally focused. He is interested only in victory.

"Sebastian has not quite reached that level," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"I know he is a two time world champion, but he is still slightly below the level of Lewis," added Alonso.

According to 1996 world champion Damon Hill, however, Hamilton was not focused enough last season.

"Lewis needs to show that he can manage his private life as well as being a professional racing driver," Hill is quoted by the Sun.

"He will be the first to admit that he had some distractions last season and we will see if he can address those."