Four titles would not make me better than Senna: Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton says winning a fourth Formula One world title would notmake him better than boyhood hero Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian whosedeath as a triple champion in 1994 rocked the sport. The Briton hasalready exceeded Senna’s career tally of race wins, podiums and polepositions and success in Mexico tomorrow would make him only the fifthdriver to claim four championships.“Ayrton’s life was cut short and I think had he the opportunity tocontinue and race in safe conditions he would have continued to win morechampionships,” the Briton told reporters on Thursday.Senna was 34 when he died in the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. “Idon’t look upon him and think that I am better because I have more winsand championships and poles, but I feel very proud for my name to bementioned alongside his name and that’s all.”Hamilton, who grew up idolising Senna, will become the first Briton towin four championships and is also by far the most successful in termsof race wins.He has already taken seven times world champion Michael Schumacher’srecords for most pole positions and front row starts and is now 29 winsaway from equalling the German’s all-time record of 91 victories. Somebelieve he could one day match Schumacher’s championships.Unlike former teammate Nico Rosberg, who won last year’s title andpromptly retired, Hamilton could be around for some time yet. “I caneasily imagine myself without Formula One, but it is not about thatright now,” he said. “There are some really cool things coming alongthat are going to complement where I am in Formula One.”He would not give any further details about that, but said he had beenin meetings in Los Angeles earlier this week to discuss “some creations”he had been working on. “I definitely won’t be here at 40. I don’tthink that is going to happen. It changes all the time,” added the32-year-old. “There have been times where I thought I am happy to moveon but you can’t come back. I can’t tell you how long I will be herefor, but eventually I will figure it out and know when the time comes. Ianticipate a couple more years at least.”Hamilton said he had come a long way since his first title with McLarennine years ago. “In 2008 I was a kid, I had all the natural talent Ihave today but I didn’t have the knowledge experience,” he said. “I’m much better equipped than I was in 2008. It’s actually been moreenjoyable this year being in the position I am. A lot more comfortablein my own skin.”Hamilton open to having Ricciardo as a teammateHamilton said he would be happy to partner Daniel Ricciardo at Mercedesone day but the Australian should keep his focus firmly on staying aheadof Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen.Ricciardo will be out of contract at the end of next season and saidrecently that he would love to partner Hamilton, who is set to become afour-times Formula One world champion in Mexico this weekend. Finland’sValtteri Bottas currently has a contract at Mercedes for 2018.Asked about Ricciardo’s comments, Hamilton told reporters that he didnot mind who he raced against but rated the Australian highly. “I havealready raced against the best and in my personal opinion that’sFernando (Alonso),” he said.“Daniel has a great driver in his teammate so he has to really work tomake sure that he continues to out-perform him, you have to beat theperson you are with first before you can look at competing againstsomeone else and beating them. But Daniel is a fantastic driver and itwould be a privilege to race against him. He is a great character, hebrings a lot of positivity to his team.”Ricciardo and Verstappen have both won this season, with the Australianfourth on 192 points and his 20-year-old Dutch teammate sixth on 123.Verstappen has suffered more reliability issues, however. Hamilton saidBottas was also a great teammate, who had brought a more relaxedatmosphere to the team after the departure of now-retired 2016 worldchampion Nico Rosberg. Hamilton and Rosberg had a notoriously frostyrelationship with both battling for the title.“There are a lot of great drivers here that I would be happy to raceagainst,” said Hamilton. “As long as somehow you are able to maintainpositivity in the team, hopefully you are fighting another team and thatharmony is incredibly important for everyone to enjoy what they do,” headded.Ferrari’s Vettel, Ricciardo’s former Red Bull teammate, indicated hewould also be happy to pair up again with the Australian. Ferrari arealso likely to have a vacancy in 2019, with Kimi Raikkonen’s contractending next year.Both Verstappen and Vettel are confirmed at their respective teamsthrough 2020. “I like Daniel,” said Vettel. “Obviously for next yearthings are sorted, and then... it depends always on what’s going on butin the end it’s not my choice.”