Memories of his hero, Ayrton Senna, will drive Lewis Hamilton in search of victory in this Sunday’s Formula One season finale — the Brazilian Grand Prix over the famed Interlagos circuit.

At 2.677 miles, Interlagos is the shortest permanent circuit on the F1 calendar and it remains unchanged from the layout that welcomed F1 back in 1990.

“It’s a real old school circuit,” said Hamilton, aiming for a second successive win after hist victory in Abu Dhabi last time out.

He added: “It’s exactly the same as when my hero Ayrton Senna won at the track in ’91 and you really feel like you’re driving on Ayrton’s track. Sao Paulo was his home city and this was his track. I would love to win there, like he did.

“Another reason why I really want to win on Sunday has its roots in 2008, when I clinched the world championship at Interlagos. It was amazing to win the world title, and to clinch it on the last lap of the last race was very exciting, but I would have much preferred to win the title with a victory. I wasn’t able to win three years ago, so I’ll try and do it this year instead!”

Physically, Interlagos is one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for the drivers. It’s one of only four anti-clockwise tracks on the calendar, and it’s also very bumpy. The left side of the body is given more of a hammering than at more conventional clockwise racetracks.

“That’s true,” agreed Hamilton. “But the track is not as much of a problem as it used to be because the cars aren’t as fast as they used to be. When I first came into F1, I worked really hard to prepare the left side of my body for this race, and particularly my neck. But that’s not necessary anymore. I still do a bit of extra work, but it’s as important to make sure I eat well and take on plenty of fluids.”

Hamilton dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix two weeks ago and he intends to do the same in Brazil on Sunday.

“It’s always good to end a season on a high note,” he said. “You’re only as good as your last race – at least that’s what people say – and it would be great to win at Interlagos, a circuit I’ve never won at before. I want a Lewis Hamilton victory to be the last thing on people’s minds as we head into the winter.”

Hamilton also believes he’ll be one of the pacesetters at Interlagos, once again taking the fight to Ferrari and Red Bull.

“Interlagos has lots of slow corners and one very long straight,” he says. “You need good traction and a strong engine if you want to be quick, and our car has both of those things.”

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