Sepang: Bernie Ecclestone called Lewis Hamilton Formula One`s best ever world champion on Friday as he took a swipe at former title-holder Sebastian Vettel.

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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 One."

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!"