Breaking news
Formula 1 Singapore GP
Hamilton: Senna record an emotional milestone
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that if he matches Ayrton Senna's win record in Formula 1 in Singapore this weekend it will mark an emotional milestone for him in his career.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Sep 17, 2015, 10:17 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Mercedes driver could equal Senna's tally of 41 wins on Sunday, which will also have him match the 161 race starts that the late Brazilian competed in.
Hamilton, who was a fan of Senna as he grew up, said that he had always targetting the achievements of his hero, so confessed that delivering the result would be a big thing for him.
"I am focused on trying to do the same job as the last race but it is kind of a milestone that I am approaching in my career," said Hamilton, during an appearance at an Epson promotional event in Singapore on Thursday.
"I always wanted to emulate Ayrton Senna and I am very close to the races he did, just one race away, and one from the races he won.
"But I don't feel under any particular pressure this weekend. I would imagine if I was to achieve the same amount at some stage, even this weekend, it would be very emotional."
Career matching
Hamilton said he was only aware of how close his career tallied with the numbers of Senna after the Italian Grand Prix.
"After the last race I was only notified how many races I had done, and to see that almost correlate with the career that Ayrton did, I couldn't believe it," he explained. "I didn't know that or what course I was on. It feels pretty amazing.
"As a kid, I set my goal on something and achieved it. I think now I am set on that goal, and very close. It may or may not happen this weekend, I still have a serious challenge ahead of me, but it feels great to be up there."
No extra pressure
Despite a lot of questioning about Senna's record, Hamilton was clear that his focus remains on the world championship rather than an all out push for the win.
"I am here fighting for the world championship, that is my focus," he said. "I am not here focusing on what Senna achieved and what I achieved.
"I am here to win the race; I will do the best I can to win the world championship. There is no more pressure this weekend."
How they compare
Senna Hamilton Starts 161 160 Titles 3 2 Wins 41 40 Pole positions 65 49 Podiums 80 81 Fastest laps 19 25 Points 610 1738
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Rossi admits Manor F1 deal "surreal"
Next article Singapore GP: Thursday's press conference
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
18 h
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
What the Brazilian GP revealed about F1's ability to cope with rain
More from
Mercedes
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
9 h
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Mercedes explains "unusual" car behaviour behind Kimi Antonelli's costly Interlagos spin
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Mercedes explains "unusual" car behaviour behind Kimi Antonelli's costly Interlagos spin
Latest news
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 9 h
IndyCar 2026 season review: ECR
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
9 h
Toto Wolff reflects on Mercedes’ non-title years: ‘We weren’t complete losers’
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 10 h
Renger van der Zande moves to IMSA’s LMP2 class full-time with Tower Motorsports
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
NASCAR Truck
NSTR NASCAR Truck
Homestead
10 h
Nick Sanchez will compete for 2027 NASCAR Truck title with McAnally-Hilgemann
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe