Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed his delight that he’s closing in on the records of his childhood hero Ayrton Senna.

The Silver Arrows ace is currently preparing for the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend and a win in the city-state would not only extend the Englishman’s lead in the Driver’s Championship.

Taking the chequered flag on Sunday would also see Hamilton go level pegging with Senna’s 41 race victories in F1, while another pole position would match the Brazilian’s all-time record for successive poles in the sport, before his tragic death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Having aspired to the success of Senna throughout his career to date, Hamilton has admitted it would be special to move alongside his idol.

He told Sky Sports News: “Since I was a boy I have always wanted to emulate Ayrton and be as similar to him as l could – whilst still being myself.

“I’ve always wanted to drive a car like he could or handle a car like he could. It’s quite surreal to think that 20 years later l am fighting for a similar number of podiums or championships, but we have to remember that if he continued he would have won many more.

“But I feel proud to be in terms of results to be similar to such a great.”

Hamilton is currently at 1.53 to take the chequered flag in Singapore on Sunday, while Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg is 3.75 to secure the win and narrow the 53-point gap in the Drivers’ Championship.