Ecclestone: Hamilton the best world champion we've had

Bernie Ecclestone has hailed Lewis Hamilton Formula 1's best ever world champion, while he took a swipe at former title-holder Sebastian Vettel.

The F1 supremo said Hamilton was "100 percent" star material, with regular appearances on TV and at awards shows, while Vettel had stayed out of the limelight.

"He's been the best world champion we've had," Ecclestone told reporters ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"Apart from the fact he's talented, he's a good guy, he gets out on the street and supports and promotes Formula 1."

While Hamilton looks and behaves like a pop star, Vettel was less visible during his run of four consecutive drivers' world titles from 2010-2013.

"I told Sebastian: 'You should be doing what he's doing'... the job of world champion," Ecclestone said.

"He was the champion and got paid money for that and these guys think their only job is racing a racing car. It goes a bit further than that."

Ecclestone added: "As a driver (Hamilton) is absolutely outstanding, as good as there's ever been.

"It's difficult to rank drivers from way because they were always in different cars.

"(Juan Manuel) Fangio would jump from one car to another every year. He never had a contract and just got in the car he car he thought would win. "Stirling (Moss) was the same but he always picked the wrong car!"