“By no means have I ever suggested that I’m better than Ayrton,” Lewis Hamilton admitted to Nigel Roebuck in 2008. “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…”
Come Sunday evening, should he win for the third time in as many races, Hamilton’s Formula 1 win-record will be almost identical to that of his idol, Ayrton Senna (but for Senna’s non-qualification at San Marino in 1984…).
While winning is the statistic that matters, you can find out which of the two is the better qualifier, whether Senna or Hamilton converts the most pole positions, gains the most places and much more, only on the new Motor Sport Database.
It doesn’t stop there, either. You can compare the two at Spa, Monaco, Monza and any other circuit they both graced. The Senna v Hamilton argument is far from at its end.
Compare Hamilton and Senna for yourself on our new Database
The Motor Sport Database is free to use, featuring more than 7000 drivers, 750 circuits, and a compare function for all Formula 1 drivers.
Fears that one engine manufacturer will dominate F1 from 2026 are likely to see strugglers allowed to catch up. If power units are to be artificially equalised, how much of a technical competition will it be? asks Mark Hughes
For an Italian F1 driver, few roles are more coveted than a Ferrari race seat, but Giancarlo Fisichella had the misfortune of joining the team during a testing 2009 season
F1 moves closer to changing its rules in a bid to avoid one engine manufacturer dominating for years, and looks to spark out the grass fires that plagued Suzuka
As Oscar Piastri moved into the championship lead, his manager Mark Webber's example should serve as a warning to Lando Norris, says Mark Hughes