Fernando Alonso says Lewis Hamilton’s three championships and ability to win without the best car makes him one of Formula One’s greats.

– F1: Hamilton crowned World Champion at USGP
– F1: Hamilton humbled to equal Senna’s record
– F1: Mixed feelings for Ferrari’s Vettel

Hamilton secured his third drivers’ title courtesy of victory in Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, giving him the championship with three races still to run. The success puts Hamilton in esteemed company, leaving him level with Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart, Jack Brabham and Nelson Piquet.

Asked if Hamilton will go on to become a great or is one already, Alonso replied: “I think he’s one already, I guess.

“Three titles, as Niki has and Ayrton, so we cannot put Lewis in a different level. He’s one of the best in the sport and I think there are more to come so he’s definitely one that we all respect.

“Some ups and downs but the good thing about Lewis is that when he didn’t have the best car he still won some races, maybe not the championship but he was still winning some races in that season and fighting for the championship  and that’s not something everyone did.”

And Alonso – who raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren in 2007 – says he rates Hamilton and his fellow competitors by more than the number of titles they have to their name. When asked how many championships Hamilton can win, Alonso said: “That’s difficult to tell.

“It depends a lot in the car. We saw Lewis winning in the second year, and then if he hadn’t gone to Mercedes maybe he could retire even with one title if you do not have the Mercedes. Maybe he can now win six if nobody can beat Mercedes in the next years, so it’s difficult to say but rating a driver [comes down to] much more than a title.”