Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain poses for the season opening portrait ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 12, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
Hamilton, racing with dominant team Mercedes, is the pre-season favourite and he said it had been his ambition since childhood to match his "favourite driver".
"I would say that I always wanted to do what Ayrton did," the 30-year-old Briton told reporters in Melbourne ahead of the year's first race, the Australian Grand Prix.
"Ayrton was my favourite driver and I guess as a kid I always wanted to emulate him."
Hamilton ended a six-year wait for his second world title last year and his biggest rival in this year's championship is expected to be his teammate, Nico Rosberg.
Brazilian legend Senna won championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991 before his life was tragically cut short when he crashed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
Speculation over Hamilton's future could be one distraction with his contract due to expire this year and reports of an approach by Ferrari.
He said discussions over a new deal with Mercedes were going well, but that nothing had been signed.
"I don't really know what to say," he said, when asked about the negotiations. "It's going good. It's not signed yet."
Hamilton added that he didn't place any extra importance on a good start to the season this year, after he had to retire from the 2014 Australian race with mechanical problems.
"I don't see a particular exaggerated importance (compared) to any other time," he said.
"Of course you come here and you'd like to start on the right foot, as I did want to last year, but there is a long, long way to go so it's not the most important start of the year."
Vettel vows no Raikkonen run-ins
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel Thursday played down fears he could fall out with new team-mate Kimi Raikkonen after his big switch to Ferrari this season.
Vettel moved from Red Bull, where he struggled behind Australian Daniel Ricciardo as Mercedes romped away with both the drivers and constructors world titles last year.
The German has had trouble in the past with team-mates, notably Australian Mark Webber, but he does not believe there will be any issues with the sometimes surly Raikkonen.
"To be honest, no. I've known Kimi now for a while. I think we respect each other, he's very straightforward, honest which I appreciate for a lot," Vettel said of the Finn.
"For sure, we try and beat each other on the track which is normal but if there are some issues I think we are old enough to talk about it and sort it out."
Heading into his Ferrari debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Vettel said the Italian team has improved from last year when they finished fourth in the constructors championship.
"Generally the atmosphere is very positive. Obviously, there has been a lot of change over the winter but people have been working very hard and we have definitely improved as a team," he said.
"So now we'll see when we get the chance to put the car on the track and see where the others run, especially on Saturday (qualifying) we'll know a little bit more.
"It depends on the form of the other teams as well but I think we've made a step, we're yet to find out how big the step is and it depends.
"As we saw last year there are chances to win races, not just for Mercedes. If you put yourself in a strong position at the beginning of the season and if something happens you're there."
Vettel added that he has no safety concerns despite the questions over McLaren driver Fernando Alonso's crash in testing and concussion which forced him out of Sunday's race.
"I think no one wants to send us onto the track when they believe something's not right," he said.
"We have far too much of a team spirit in all the teams I would say to let that happen. When the team decides it's safe to run, it's safe to run."
Red Bull 'have plan' to beat Mercedes - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo says Red Bull have confidence, reliability and "a plan" to beat the Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in the new Formula One season, starting with Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.
The Australian is now Red Bull's lead driver after the defection of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel to Ferrari and he is confident the team can recapture old glories.
World drivers' champion Hamilton and last year's race winner Rosberg are expected to take up where dominant Mercedes left off last year in this weekend's season opener, but Ricciardo said Red Bull have a plan to win.
Ricciardo spectacularly launched his 2014 season by finishing second in Melbourne, only for officials to disqualify him over a technical infringement.
Twelve months on and Red Bull are in a better place after testing and ready to throw down the gauntlet to Mercedes, he said.
Mercedes won the constructors' championship last season and although Red Bull were runners-up they were still nearly 300 points behind.
"If you look back on last year for sure we're in a better position this year," Ricciardo said.
"We're coming here this weekend with a lot more confidence and reliability and we've actually got a plan for Sunday where last year it was a case of putting the car on the track and hope to see the chequered flag."
Ricciardo said after a year behind the wheel at Red Bull he was a better driver and the team was determined to close the gap on dominant Mercedes.
"Within the team there is a lot that has progressed since then and with myself I've moved along," he said. "I feel I am a more evolved driver and have a bigger impact in the team after spending the 12 months there.
"I think it's all on the table ready for us to use and pursue to put up another strong fight so I am looking forward to that this year."
Ricciardo conceded that Mercedes have the extra pace in their cars as shown in pre-season testing, but it was a close tussle behind them.
"It looks pretty close within that group and we'll see what happens on track but it does look like the Mercs have a bit of pace again this year," he said.
"For that last spot on the podium it looks pretty close between us, Ferrari and Williams and I am sure there will be few other players coming into the mix.
"Testing doesn't really show everything and I think what it did show was that the Mercs are quick, but it's close behind them."
Ricciardo said the influential designer Adrian Newey was still around the Red Bull team, providing his experience heading into the new season despite his intention to step down.
"The vibes are still good, still strong. Adrian Newey is here this weekend and I've been asked a little bit about him and how much he's stepped back," Ricciardo said.
"I don't want to put him in the spotlight but he was at all the pre-season tests and he's here this weekend and looks like he's already done more than usually thought he would.
"So I think he's very much much interested in the RB 11 (car) and from what I can see the team definitely wants to get back on top."
McLaren boss 'failed' over concussion denial
McLaren boss Ron Dennis said he was wrong to deny Fernando Alonso was concussed when he crashed in testing, as the team prepared to start the Formula One season without the two-time world champion.
Dennis said he could understand the criticism that came his way after he denied Alonso was concussed, only for him to be ruled out of the Australian Grand Prix on medical advice.
"It was not the best performance by me," McLaren's chairman and CEO was quoted as saying by British newspapers.
"I understand why the press beat me up for being inaccurate. I wanted to be open and honest. I failed. But it is my objective to try to be as honest as possible in future."
McLaren head into the season-opener in downbeat mood with Alonso, returning from Ferrari, sidelined to avoid a second head impact and after their MP4-30 car struggled in testing.
The nature of Alonso's crash in Barcelona, labelled "very strange" by his manager, prompted speculation and McLaren had to deny he suffered an electric shock in the cockpit.
Dennis said no decision had been made about whether Alonso links up with Jenson Button for the second race in Malaysia, although the Spaniard seems determined to take part.
"There is a very understandable concern about the complexities of a second concussion – okay, he had concussion – within 21 days of the first impact," Dennis said.
"This is all something very difficult to quantify, and certainly not within my capability. We know we have a mountain to climb and we're in the process of climbing it.
"It's massively complex. We're not where we want to be but we will get to where we want to be given time."
Button, who has won the Australian Grand Prix three times, said McLaren would not be challenging for victory in Australia after repeated mechanical problems pre-season.
"We all know it's not going to be the easiest weekend for us," Button told reporters. "Will we be challenging for a win? No, we won't be."
Kevin Magnussen, who will stand in for Alonso this weekend, said expectations were "quite low" as McLaren renew their partnership with Japanese engine supplier Honda.
"We're struggling with reliability to make the car run for a long time and also this is a new start for McLaren and in many ways," he said.
"It's going to take time but I think it's the right direction that the team has chosen to go and I think it has a bright future.
"It's going to take time but I think it will get there."
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