Inspired Hamilton can reign like hero Senna

Yet the performance of Britain's rookie in winning yesterday's rain-stricken Japanese Grand Prix, so nearly matching that of Brazilian legend Senna when he tamed the treacherous conditions for one of his most momentous victories at Donington Park in 1993, will soon makes comparisons between the two men inevitable.

Hamilton is now just laps away from claiming the world championship in his first season in Formula One. And while the 22-year-old today insisted he has a long way to go before reaching the heights attained by Senna, he is surely displaying all the racing traits of his hero. After a dramatic drive at the Fuji circuit that survived a mid-race collision, Hamilton said: "That was the best of my career.

"During the last lap I was thinking back to some of the races Senna and Alain Prost were in. It makes me feel I'm on the way to achieving something similar to them.

When I was a kid I hoped that one day I'd be leading in torrential rain and pulling away by a second a lap. I was doing that. It made me feel so happy. But in no way would I compare myself to Senna."

Not yet, perhaps. But the time must surely come.

With McLaren team-mate and bitter rival Fernando Alonso crashing into a wall, Hamilton carries a 12-point lead into the penultimate Grand Prix in China next weekend. If he finishes ahead of the Spaniard in Shanghai, the result of the final race in Brazil a fortnight later becomes irrelevant.

"After the first pole position and after the first win I was like 'come on, get out of here'," said Hamilton. "Now it is just way beyond anything I imagined."

Within reach is the first title to be held by a British driver since Damon Hill triumphed in 1996.

Hamilton said: "The key for me is to just focus on the next race, make sure my preparations are right, and take it as it comes."

If Hamilton's luck holds the way it did when his McLaren was touched into a spin by the BMW of Robert Kubica, he will be leading the cheers from the top step of the podium in China.

Fortunately, Hamilton was able to resume and take the chequered flag from the Renault of Heikki Kovalainen and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton's Senna-like mastery of the wet meant he escaped most of the carnage and he admitted: "That was the ultimate test of any driver's experience, abilities and concentration.

"I'm really proud of myself that I was able to keep the car on the track and not make any mistakes."

Alonso said: "It is not over because mathematically it is not over. But in China, I need a retirement from Lewis with a mechanical problem or something to have a chance of winning the title."

IS LEWIS BETTER THAN SENNA? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW