Niki Lauda said that Brawn GP are still the favourites to win both the formula one drivers' and constructors' championships this season.
Jenson Button heads the drivers' standings with a 18.5 point advantage over Mark Webber after clinching six victories in the first seven races of the season, and Brawn GP hold a 15.5 point lead over Red Bull Racing in the constructors' table with six races to go.
Button has not appeared on the podium in the last three races, but Lauda is sure the Briton and his team can keep a firm grip on their advantage until the end of the season.
'Believe me, Brawn GP's success caught me with the same surprise as everybody else,' Lauda told the official F1 website.
'They have managed to come up with a fantastic package that has to be beaten first.'
'But since the start of the season all the others have caught up, especially Red Bull Racing with their new aero package, and to my surprise McLaren, with their win in Budapest.
'Ross [Brawn] has to keep up with his development speed, but clearly at the moment they are the favourites for both championships,' he contined.
But the Austrian warned McLaren and Ferrari could cause a massive problem for Brawn as the season draws to a conclusion, as both teams have made significant strides forward in recent races.
He said: 'Of course both teams will develop their car come hell or high water and at the moment McLaren seem to be on a more promising path, as we saw in Budapest.
'I expect them to raise their game massively for the upcoming races,' he continued.
Jenson Button heads the drivers' standings with a 18.5 point advantage over Mark Webber after clinching six victories in the first seven races of the season, and Brawn GP hold a 15.5 point lead over Red Bull Racing in the constructors' table with six races to go.
Button has not appeared on the podium in the last three races, but Lauda is sure the Briton and his team can keep a firm grip on their advantage until the end of the season.
'Believe me, Brawn GP's success caught me with the same surprise as everybody else,' Lauda told the official F1 website.
'They have managed to come up with a fantastic package that has to be beaten first.'
'But since the start of the season all the others have caught up, especially Red Bull Racing with their new aero package, and to my surprise McLaren, with their win in Budapest.
'Ross [Brawn] has to keep up with his development speed, but clearly at the moment they are the favourites for both championships,' he contined.
But the Austrian warned McLaren and Ferrari could cause a massive problem for Brawn as the season draws to a conclusion, as both teams have made significant strides forward in recent races.
He said: 'Of course both teams will develop their car come hell or high water and at the moment McLaren seem to be on a more promising path, as we saw in Budapest.
'I expect them to raise their game massively for the upcoming races,' he continued.
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