Mika Hakkinen has become the third ex-Formula One champion to back Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winning this year’s drivers’ championship.
Hakkinen was the last man to clinch the title in a McLaren car, landing back-to-back titles in ’98 and ’99.
The Finn said: "When I was racing it took time for me to stabilise myself and calm down a little, and then I got the results.
"That is now the situation with Lewis. He has calmed down and is stable, more mature."
Former champ Niki Lauda, who triumphed in 1975, 1977 and 1984, also thinks Hamilton has what it takes to follow in his footsteps.
The Austrian has criticised the McLaren man in the past but seeing his victory in the German Grand Prix has made the scales fall from his eyes.
"If he continues like this, he will be unbeatable," he admitted.
The 1996 victor Damon Hill told BBC Radio Five earlier this week: "Lewis is on a roll now as you could see from his performance in Germany. It may be finished before the season is over."
