Hamilton maintained his stunning start to his career on Sunday by winning the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. He now commands an eight-point lead over McLaren team-mate and reigning double world champion Fernando Alonso heading into Sunday's US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

And Williams, who guided Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill to world titles with his team, said: "Lewis is clearly a very special driver. We have never seen anything like this in F1 before. It's almost inexplicable. The word phenomenon just about fits."

He added in the Daily Express: "It makes you think maybe there is a God after all. He is a great story not just for McLaren but for everybody involved in motorsport."