LONDON, July 21, 2008 (AFP) - Three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda on Monday described Lewis Hamilton as "outstanding", following the Briton´s win at last weekend´s German Grand Prix.

"If he continues to drive like this, and not start fading like last year in the last couple of races, then he is going in the right direction, no question," said Lauda.

"It was an absolutely great race from him. Outstanding. (Ayrton) Senna-type driving. Honestly, and he has now gone up in my estimation."

Hamilton exploded onto the F1 scene last year, scoring podiums in his first nine races in his rookie season to become championship favourite, until errors in the final two rounds saw him pipped by Kimi Raikkonen.

"Last year he was my favourite, but then he screwed up in the last couple of races and so I didn´t understand why he started (this year) as bad as he finished last year, but I think he´s got the message now," said Lauda, the former Jaguar Racing F1 Team boss.

Hamilton has put in two excellent performances to win the British - in wet conditions - and German events, giving the 23-year-old McLaren star a four-point lead in the drivers´ standings.

But it was Hamilton´s Hockenheim heroics that Lauda was especially excited about, after the Brit had to overcome a disastrous team pit-stop gaffe which almost cost him the race.

"The race was won by Lewis and not by the team, because the team made it unnecessarily complicated," said the 59-year-old Austrian, adding: "Whatever excuse (the team) will have, the other way was easier.

"From Silverstone and that difficult race, and in this difficult race, he has produced outstanding performances. So he is on the right track, and if he continues like this he is unbeatable."

Lauda believes Hamilton´s confidence will be high and, with the car quicker than Ferrari, the omens could not be better as the F1 showcase heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix early next month.

"Two wins like that calms you down. The most important thing for him is to calm himself down, and not try to win everything with power and stress.

"But I think it will calm him down, and he will use his ability of driving quick in a way that he will drive races like this and continue.

He added: "So if he and the team work together in this direction, Ferrari will not beat them."