Hamilton, Alonso 'head and shoulders' above rest

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have been backed as the top two drivers on the F1 grid - with former racer John Watson insisting that the pair are 'head and shoulders' above the rest of the field, including defending champion Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton clinched his second victory of the season in the German Grand Prix after a race long fight with Alonso's Ferrari and the Red Bull of Mark Webber, with Vettel off the pace for the first time this season as he came home a distant fourth.

Although Vettel retains a 77 point championship lead, Watson said it was the top two in the Nurburgring race - who have three titles to their name - who are the class acts on the grid.

"Two drivers yesterday I thought were outstanding," he told talkSPORT Lewis Hamilton, clearly, but also Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari and those two drivers, in my opinion, are head and shoulders above the others.

"That's including Mark Webber, who is a great driver, and Sebastian Vettel, who is leading the World Championship even now by 77 points."

Former McLaren driver Watson also gave special praise to Hamilton for his battling drive to victory, which came after a difficult home outing at Silverstone earlier in the month.

"It was a great drive," he said. "Just think back two weeks at the British Grand Prix, Lewis was absolutely devastated. He was complaining about not enough fuel in the car, complaining about not enough grip on the car, and two weeks later he dominates the German Grand Prix.

"It was a classic Lewis Hamilton drive and what a great pleasure to see a racing driver doing what it says on the the job description; racing."