LONDON, June 19 - Former champion Emerson Fittipaldi says fellow-Brazilian Nelson Piquet junior could prove as much of an eye-opener as Lewis Hamilton if Renault were to give him a Formula One drive this season.

"Nelson and Lewis were the two hardest competitors in GP2 last year," the 60-year-old told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

"He's extremely talented and if you ask me what is the next hope for Brazil, I think it's Nelson Piquet junior.

"Talking about natural talent, I think Nelsinho could surprise as much as Hamilton has surprised," added the Brazilian.

He said that was not meant as any disrespect to Felipe Massa, the Brazilian who has won two races for Ferrari this year and was tipped by many before the start of the season as a title favourite.

"Felipe has been in Formula One for a long time, I have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of talent," said Fittipaldi. "But I think Nelsinho will bring it to the next level, similar to Hamilton."

Fittipaldi is a close friend of Piquet's father, triple world champion Nelson Piquet, and hired the youngster to race for Brazil in the A1 Grand Prix series. He won on his debut.

Piquet, 21, is now the test driver for Formula One champions Renault, whose current lineup is 34-year-old Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen.

Kovalainen has had a difficult start after replacing departed double world champion Fernando Alonso but has scored points in the last two races.

Hamilton, 22, leads the Formula One standings and is 10 points clear of double champion and McLaren team mate Fernando Alonso after winning the last two races. He has been on the podium after all his seven starts so far.

"I talked to (Renault team boss) Flavio Briatore in Canada. I said 'Flavio, you want to put Nelsinho in immediately,'" said Fittipaldi of his protege.

"He likes the idea but he said 'but I want my cars to be stronger for Nelson to be a competitor.'

"If I were Flavio I'd put him in this year," he added.