“He Faced Alone, a System” – Lewis Hamilton Pays Tribute to His ‘Greatest Inspiration’ Ayrton Senna

Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna are two icons of the Formula One world. On many occasions, the 7-time world champion has mentioned that Senna is the reason he got interested in racing. He has called the Brazilian legend as his hero in life.

As the sport heads to the Brazilian GP this weekend, Hamilton took to social media to pay tribute to his hero. He mentioned he looks up to the former driver as a racer and as a person as well.

“My greatest inspiration. It was the way he raced, his passion for life and for the sport. But more than anything, it was the way he faced alone, a system that wasn’t always kind to him. May @oficialayrtonsenna’s legacy live on forever, especially vibrant this weekend.” said Hamilton.

WATCH STORY: Insane Michael Schumacher Records That Lewis Hamilton Hasn’t Broken Yet

Lewis Hamilton recalls the day Ayrton Senna passed away

As reported by Sky Sports, Lewis Hamilton mentioned he remembers the day his hero Senna passed away on 1 May 1994. The Mercedes driver stated he channeled his sadness into his driving.

“I remember that day, I was racing at Rye House in karting. My dad had a red Vauxhall Cavalier, and we had a white box trailer with a gas heater shoved at the deep end of the trailer. I was helping my dad fix the car.” said Hamilton.

“Someone told him that Ayrton had died and I remember I had to walk away from my dad because my dad would never let me cry in front of him. I had to go to a different place, and it was not so easy.”

“But I remember trying to challenge that sadness into my driving and I think I won that weekend. But the following weeks were very tough.” said the 7-time world champion.

Hamilton continues to break records in Formula One, despite his hero not being alive to witness it. But in a way, Senna’s legacy lives on with Lewis’s performances and tributes to the three-time world champion.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton’s net worth: Is he a billionaire?