Lewis Hamilton says the legacy left behind by Ayrton Senna will always see him rega🍷rded as one of Formula 1’s “most iconic” drivers🀅.

Wednesday marks 25 years since Senna died from injuries sustained in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, a weekend marred by tragedy as A🅷ustrian driver Roland Ratzenberger also lost his life following a separate incident in qualifying.

Senna won three world championship titles with McLaren and has been an idol for Hamilton throughou🤪t the Brito🔜n’s career.

Speaking during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton said: “For me, Ayrton is ༒always in his own light, and he’s always on his own unique level that as a driver you just aspire to emulate or be like.

“I grew up watching videos. He’s the most iconic driver. He was an iconic ⛎individual, a r💃eal leader and a master of his craft.

“He was th💜e driver that inspired me as a kid. Stꦕill, a hero today, and will always be.

“[It was] what he stood for andꦚ what he stood up against and what he was able to do in a car that I loved to see.”

Senna’s former teammate Gerhard Berger recently said Hamilton, who already has five drivers’ title to his name, is the only dr﷽iver he considers to be on the same🎉 level as the Brazilian.

Asked about Berger’s comments, Hamilton🌱 replied: “Well that’s t🌸he first time I’ve heard of it. Wow.

“Ge🌄rhard got to race alongside him and was a really good friend of his. So that said me𒈔ans a lot coming from him, someone who knew him so well, and yeah it’s quite humbling to be put even in the same sentence as someone like him.”

Four-time world champion and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel also paid tribute toꦍ Senna in Baku.

“Obviously Michael [Schumacher] is my big hero,” he said. “So a bit different and I know that for a lot of people they compare one with the other, some say Michael is better some say Ayrton is better, I don’t think it’s necessary to cℱompare.

“I think they’re both g✱reat. Surely Ayrton had his peak era before Michael. It would’ve been interesting to see both of them go head to head. But yeah, I think for many♑ reasons he’s considered one of the greatest.

“🐭What he achieved in such a short amount of t🍸ime and the precision he had behind the wheel was unique.

“I remember watching and following on TV, I’m not sure I understood back then what it meant, because it wasn’t clear straightaway that he was dead but yeah, my father was a biꩲg Senna fan and he was obviously shocked.

“So, I remember the moment for sure when it happened and I think all the fans around the world went silent💜 for t🌄hat time. Certainly a big loss for Formula 1.”