Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso pay tribute to their 'hero', Ayrton Senna
Modern champions acknowledge legacy of Brazilian great 20 years after his tragic death
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have paid emotional tributes to Ayrton Senna on the 20th anniversary of the death of the maverick Brazilian superstar and three-time world champion.
Senna, widely regarded as the greatest racing driver of all time, died when his car careered off the Imola track in the early stages of the San Marino Grand Prix on May 1, 1994. He was 34 years old.
It was Formula One's blackest weekend - it also saw Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger killed and Senna's compatriot Rubens Barrichello injured.
You like to think that one day you may be recognised as someone that was able to drive similarly to him
"When I was a kid I had all the books, all the videos, he was the driver I looked up to," said Hamilton, who was just nine at the time of Senna's death.
"He inspired me to be a driver and on the day of his passing, his death was... I went off to a quiet place and it was very difficult for several days ... your hero's gone."
Senna, the outspoken world champion of 1988, 1990 and 1991, was leading in San Marino on lap seven when his Williams car veered spectacularly off the racing line at 307km/h at the Tamburello corner and straight into a concrete wall.
He received emergency treatment at the scene before being airlifted to Bologna hospital where he was later declared dead.
"He was an incredible legend. You like to think that one day you may be recognised as someone that was able to drive similarly to him," added Hamilton, the 2008 world champion.