Lewis Hamilton today revealed he is being driven to win the world championship by the spirit of his hero, the late Ayrton Senna.

The Briton goes into Sunday's decisive Brazilian Grand Prix seven points ahead of title rival Felipe Massa, and knowing that fifth place at Interlagos will be enough to see his name engraved on motor racing's roll of honour alongside the man who served as his inspiration since childhood.

The 23-year-old, now driving for the same McLaren team as Senna, said: "I've always felt I had a connection with him, that we're somehow similar.

"He was such a fighter, that was the thing. I don't think he was ever one to drive half-heartedly. He seemed to me to have that little bit of an edge.

"I do crazy things others wouldn't do and I feel like I have an edge, too. I feel I share something with him. He was always looking for perfection and, yeah, he was a warrior. That's what I loved about him."

Senna, who won three world titles, was killed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola and his grave is not far from the circuit in Sao Paulo where Hamilton will seek to become world champion in only his second season as a member of the F1 elite.

Although Hamilton, whose crash helmet is painted the same shade of yellow as that made famous by the Brazilian legend, was nine at the time of Senna's death their paths had crossed.

"The year before, I'd won the British karting championship and got the chance to meet him. I'll never forget that," Hamilton told Motor Sport magazine.

"As a kid, I was drawn to Senna because, for one thing, his driving style seemed to be different from anyone else's.

"And he seemed to be a daredevil. Well, not a daredevil exactly, but he always went out of his way to make sure he was at the front.

"For me he's the king, and always will be. If I could ever get to a point of being anywhere near as good as he was, I'd feel great."

Senna won his opening title in 1988, which was his fifth season in Formula One but his first with McLaren.