Hamilton 'is driving like an extra-terrestrial’ – Lauda

Mercedes’ Niki Lauda claims championship leader Lewis Hamilton is currently “driving like an extra-terrestrial” following the Briton’s strong start to his 2015 campaign.

The defending champion remains unbeaten in qualifying with a string of four pole positions while his lowest result on race day was second in Malaysia where Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel defeated both Mercedes W06 Hybrids fair and square.

Hamilton currently sits atop the standings with a comfortable 27-point cushion over Nico Rosberg, who has been struggling to match his team-mate’s relentless pace so far.

Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda believes the 30-year-old is simply unreachable at the moment.

“(Hamilton is) in a phase where everything is always perfect," the triple world champion (1975, 1977, 1984) told Austrian news agency APA.

“He is driving like an extra-terrestrial. He is faultless. He is putting in lap times that no other driver can beat.”

Hamilton will now look to extend his current run of success during this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. The double world champion has only won once at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since he started racing in F1, but that victory came last year when he held off Rosberg in a thrilling race-long battle.

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