Lewis Hamilton is Formula 1's greatest qualifier since Ayrton Senna, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber believes.

The Briton is already the sport's most successful driver ever on a Saturday with 83 pole positions to his name, 15 clear of Michael Schumacher.

For many though, the great Brazilian, who amassed 65 poles in his career, is still the greatest of all time but the Australian thinks Lewis does push him close.

"In qualifying – I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again – he’s the best since Senna. I mean he is better than Michael over one lap," Webber told Speedcafe.com.

"Arguably he is definitely the best in the last, getting on for 40 years. He’s up there with Ayrton on one lap.

"Lewis doesn’t go off the road much on Saturdays and he’s had this devastating turn of speed when he needs to turn it on."

Also Read:

• Verstappen: F1 success 'a lot easier' for Hamilton at Mercedes
• Hamilton could never consider himself Formula 1's 'GOAT'

Having raced wheel-to-wheel with Hamilton before his retirement at the end of 2013, Webber also claims the five-time F1 champion has proved himself as the best of his generation.

"I don’t know what his real weaknesses are, that is why he is so dangerous," the Channel 4 pundit admitted.

"He has definitely had the measure of Sebastian [Vettel] of late. We know he is as strong as Fernando [Alonso], so he’s been hard work for all of us over the years and that’s why he’s got the track record that he has."

The debate still rages, however, on whether the 33-year-old will break the one record nobody thought would be touched for quite some, Schumacher's seven F1 titles.

On that point, Webber does think next season could determine if Hamilton believes that to be attainable.

"He could go all the way, especially if he gets (his sixth world championship) next year," he said. "I think that’s going to be a big indication of whether he’s got the motivation to try and get past Michael, which obviously will be eight.

"Have the next three years on the bounce, a lot of people probably would have switched off by then.

"To watch the record happen would be incredible but there is a lot, a lot of racing to be done."