Sir Stirling Moss believes McLaren duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are still some distance from toppling Sebastien Vettel.
Vettel, who drives for Red Bull, has reigned supreme in Formula 1 for the last two years.
He finished 122 points clear of Button in 2011, and in 2010 came from behind to beat Fernando Alonso into second place.
And Moss, who is described by many as the best driver to have never won a drivers' championship, believes the German will continue to dominate in 2012.
"Vettel is outstanding, but then he has the best car, which is fair enough because normally the best driver gets the best car," he told Reuters.
"Where we're lucky is that Vettel has a great sense of humour. He is a damn good World Champion.
"I can think of many people who have reached that position and not given back as much as they've got out, but he really does."
Hamilton was champion in 2008 before passing the torch to his fellow Brit, Button, the following season.
The pair are expected to be challenging at the top of the grid in 2012, but Moss doesn't believe that they're capable of winning the competition.
"They are up there, but not as far as he is. Vettel is a modern-day legend in Formula One. I can't see, other than his natural ability, how he can be that good," he added.
"The problem for Jenson and Lewis is they're up against a better outfit.
"The Red Bull car is so good. It's enormously difficult to be as good as that is, and I don't think they are yet."