Damon Hill has heaped praise on to Lewis Hamilton in a recent interview with Daily Mail, saying that he believes he is is the best driver the sport has ever produced.

Hill, a former world champion himself, has claimed that Hamilton has “achieved the impossible” in only being one world championship win off Michael Schumacher’s total, after the Brit wins this year's championship that is, and has labelled him the greatest to ever grace Formula One.

Hamilton already has five world titles to his name, and he's bound to add a sixth this year, leaving him just one off Schumacher's haul.

"It is clear that Lewis is the best driver we have ever produced," Hill said.

“Only one more [WC] after this and he is on level with Schumacher. Something that was considered impossible."

He does have one reservation about his countryman, though, which is that he does not think that he will be remembered as well as Schumacher.

He stresses that this is not because of ability, but due to the popularity of the sport, which Hill believes was greater in Schumacher’s day than Hamilton’s.

“I don't think it's Lewis' fault. I wonder if it is because the sport itself is less in the spotlight. 

"There are still many fans in the UK, but many people around the world have left since Michael won everything."

Some Formula One fans may not agree with Hill’s claim, but it is certainly difficult to argue that Hamilton doesn’t deserve to at least be in the greatest ever conversation.

He has no plans to stop soon either, saying in an interview in August that there is “plenty more to win”.

By the time he retires, it is likely that he will have won more than Schumacher. If this does end up being the case, it will be very difficult to argue against Hill’s claim.

Hamilton will surely be flattered by these words as he aims to continue his successful career.