Lewis Hamilton is eager to spark the same dreams that Ayrton Senna did

Lewis Hamilton hopes to inspire the next generation, just as Ayrton Senna fired his imagination as a boy.

The Briton was only six when Senna won the last of his three world titles in 1991 and emulating the great Brazilian, who died in 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix, has been an ambition since he watched him racing on television as a boy.

The young Hamilton would come home from school and put on a tape of Senna’s finest moments, dreaming of one day doing something similar.

That goal was achieved last night when he won the US Grand Prix in Austin and he reflected on his success by thinking of the impact it could have on others.

“I really realise that while I get to enjoy driving in Formula One, this is really a platform for me to inspire young people,” said Hamilton, only the second three-time British world champion after Sir Jackie Stewart.

“I hope if there is any inspiring from today it’s just that: never give up on your dreams, on your hopes and on your desires. Just keep working at it.”

At 30 years old and given his dominance this season — Hamilton has a 76-point lead with three races to go — the question is how many more championships can he win.

Only four drivers have more titles and Hamilton was asked if he had his sights on Michael Schumacher’s record of seven crowns.

“For me it was always to get the three that Ayrton had,” replied Hamilton.“He wasn’t from the same country as me but he was the guy that inspired me as a youngster. Now I’m like, ‘I don’t know where it’s going next’. There is no one else I look to, that I want to equal or emulate now.

“I feel like I’ve got the baton now for myself and Ayrton and I’m going to carry it as far as I can, as strong as I can and keep building and see where I take it.”

Not everyone at Mercedes was thrilled, though, with Nico Rosberg accusing his team-mate of going “one step too far” and driving “extremely aggressive” after they came together at turn one on the opening lap.

Rosberg’s unforced error with seven laps to go gifted Hamilton victory but the German was still seething at the finish and threw a cap back at his team-mate in the green room before the podium celebrations.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff today appeared to side with Rosberg and plans talks with Hamilton.

“I think Nico has reason to be upset for that incident,” said Wolff. “I think it is important that we sit down in a couple of days and discuss it because we don’t want it to escalate in to something bigger.”