HE IS regarded as the greatest driver of all time, but even he did not have the head start Lewis Hamilton has had.
However, this Sunday on a Sao Paulo circuit where Ayrton Senna is still worshipped as a national hero, Hamilton will look to become the youngest Formula One world champion in history.
It certainly seems like a fitting place to create history, and the McLaren driver goes into the final Grand Prix of the season knowing that a top five finish will guarantee him the title regardless of whatever result his only rival Felipe Massa can conjure.
Victory would also make Hamilton the ninth British driver to celebrate a world championship, 50 years after the first, the colourful and controversial Mike Hawthorn.
The Briton though is aware of the symbolism of winning a title in Senna's backyard.
'Ayrton has always been my favourite driver. I think he's the best driver there ever was and, still, to this day, I don't believe anyone would beat him,' said Hamilton.
'If I could achieve just a small part of what he achieved, it would be a dream for me.'
However, the McLaren driver is being tipped for much more than what he is modestly envisaging, and by none other than another record-breaker, Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher said his record feat of seven Formula One world championships is there for the breaking - and that Lewis Hamilton is in pole position to do it.
Asked if he thought Hamilton could beat his record, the German told the BBC's Inside Sport programme: 'I would say, absolutely, yes.'
And Schumacher said that he was impressed with Hamilton's form since exploding onto the scene at the Australian GP last year.
'When you think about what he has done in such a short time - just arriving and competing last year with (two-time world champion) Alonso and being very often quicker - that speaks for itself,' the German said.
When one thinks about what happened last season though, one would forgive Hamilton a sense of deja vu.
Heartbreaking
A year ago, Hamilton threw away a 12-point lead in the last two races and lost the title in his rookie year to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by a heartbreaking single point at the same, creaking Interlagos track.
'Last year, I went to Interlagos with the title battle still up in the air and all my emotions just bubbling up and down. It was a very emotional time because I knew it would end with either great success or huge disappointment,' said the 23-year-old.
'In 2007, things didn't end up too well for me - but I still had a great first year.'
Hamilton has already imitated Schumacher in one aspect though - by drawing criticism of his uncompromising driving style.
The McLaren driver created controversy in the paddock in 2008 with many rivals, including Raikkonen as well as bitter former team-mate Fernando Alonso, vocal in their criticism of his driving style.
But he insists he will go into Sunday's race with the same determination he has shown throughout his young career.
'My aim for Brazil is slightly different from the other Grands Prix. I don't need to win the race, but that won't stop me from going into the weekend looking to be as strong as possible,' he said.
'Shanghai (where he won comfortably from pole) was a good example of that.
'Our aim wasn't to push too hard, but we found ourselves in a position at the front and took it comfortably from there.
'That's what I am hoping to achieve in Brazil - a straightforward weekend that allows me to just focus on my car and my driving.'
The only one on Sunday who could upset Hamilton's title aspirations is Massa, who won at Interlagos in 2006.
The 27-year-old Brazilian, seven points behind Hamilton, said he will feel no pressure from home fans as he attempts to become the first Brazilian world champion since Senna's third and last title in 1991.
'The pressure from the fans only helps. It's always better to have it,' Massa said ahead of the race in his home city.
'I've always liked racing at home. You can absorb everything positive from the fans and that helps you do your best.'
However, one cannot help but feel that, in the home of arguably the greatest ever Formula One champion, we could witness the crowning of a driver who could usurp that title.
