F1 champ Vettel not as good as Hamilton: Alonso

Rell Bull's Sebastian Vettel (left) and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton wave to supporters on the eve of the Belgium Grand Prix in August 2011. Ferrari's former world drivers' championship winner Fernando Alonso has told the Sport-Bild magazine that Hamilton is a better driver than Vettel -- the reigning world champion

Lewis Hamilton is a better Formula One driver than reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari's former world drivers' championship winner Fernando Alonso has told German magazine Sport-Bild. "Lewis is very fast, aggressive and totally focused, he is only interested in victory. Sebastian has not reached that level yet," said Alonso. "I know he's the double world champion, but he is still somewhat behind the level Lewis has set." Germany's Vettel secured his second consecutive world drivers' championship title when he dominated the 2011 season, finishing with 392 points, while Britain's 2008 champion Hamilton finished fifth - 165 points behind the German. Spain's Alonso was fourth last season and won the last of his two world titles in 2006. The new Formula One season begins on March 18 with the Australian Grand Prix.