Sir Jackie Stewart believes the current Formula 1 field is the best history has brought.

"Red Bull had a good car this year but right down to the last race there were four drivers battling for the championship, and there were five for most of the season really in contention," he told Autosport, refering to the epic battle between Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Stewart added that the current field is very much like the one he used to race in the late 1960s and early 19070s.

"I don't think Sebastian Vettel is any different from what Jim Clark was, or Graham Hill was, or Jack Brabham was, or people who have won the world championship more than once. These drivers are the same - all the same desire, want, focus, commitment and God-given talent that has been developed to the highest level."

Still according to Stewart however, who has won three title in 1969, 1971 and 1973, 2011 can only be greater since all of those young drivers will have one more year of experience behind their belts.

"Webber is still in there, and Kubica could one day be world champion. You also have Jenson driving in the smoothest and cleanest way of any driver, and Lewis is probably the best racer of the whole lot - and the best equipped is still Alonso. You have such a group of extraordinarily skilled people..." he concluded.

At 23, Sebastian Vettel won the world championship the year Stewart joined Formula 1 hinting at how much he still has to learn - and at how much he could still improve - over the next few years.