Vettel: Senna is my idol and the best driver in the history of Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel, the two-time consecutive Formula 1 world champion, recently watched a film about Ayrton Senna, the tragically killed famous Brazilian driver, and said that he remembers it from his boyhood days.

"I was very young, but I remember the first pictures of the great Ayrton from 1991, when I was only four years old. I remember Senna's first victory in Sao Paulo when he came to the podium completely exhausted. He is my idol and I will always to be a role model," Vettel told Germany's Sportbild.

Senna, known for his yellow helmet, is considered by Vettel to be the greatest driver in the history of Formula 1, especially in the fight against the stopwatch. The German points out that his wish is to visit the grave of Sena in Sao Paolo and to worship his idol in complete silence, without cameras and journalists.

"I don't know if I'll make it this year, but I'll go once," said Vettel.

Vettel equaled Nigel Mansell's 1992 record with 14 pole positions in a season this year, but says he doesn't want to compare himself to "the fantastic Senna because his 65 poles are still a long way off".

"Senna is the best Formula 1 driver in history and it is very sad that he is no longer with us. He gave a lot to this sport, and he always gave his best. "Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him personally, but people who knew him told me all the best about him," Vettel said.

Sena, a three-time world champion, tragically died on May 1, 1994 during the race for the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola. The highway from the airport to the city of Sao Paolo, where Formula 1 drivers come to the race, is named after him.