Mark Webber has hailed Lewis Hamilton as one of Formula 1’s best ever drivers – even comparing the Brit to seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

Mercedes driver Hamilton is targeting a record-equalling seventh championship himself when the new F1 season gets underway in Melbourne next weekend.

And Australian Webber, who retired in 2013, believes Hamilton’s place in the history of the sport is undeniable.

“Absolutely, no question about it, I think he’s more complete than Michael,” he said, as per GP Fans.

“I think he went about those results in a technically cleaner executed way, just by the way of wheel-to-wheel combat and no real trickery in his contracts with the other drivers.

“I think he’s certainly up there. I mean, obviously Alain Prost, where do you go with the [Niki] Laudas, the [Jackie] Stewarts, or [Ayrton] Senna?

“Clearly Michael is absolutely in there, he’s got all the records in terms of championships and race victories, but I’m confident that Lewis can give those a red-hot go.”

Hamilton won his first Drivers' Championship back in 2008 and has dominated in recent years – winning five of the last six seasons.

Webber is one of only a handful of drivers to have competed against both Hamilton and Schumacher.

And while there might not be many similarities between the two sports, Webber went on to draw comparisons between Hamilton and two tennis greats.

“On the track he is [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer-esque," continued Webber.

"He just executes, and he does it in a way that is very, very clinical. He doesn’t go to the stewards often; when was the last time he was done for speeding in the pit lane?

“He’s got so much mind management, and composure – he’s an extraordinary, extraordinary talent now, and he keeps reinventing himself, so deserves everything.”

Hamilton is odds-on favourite to win a fourth straight title, with Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen the closest to him.