DECEMBER 16, 2000

Schumacher pays tribute to Senna

THREE-TIME Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has paid tribute to his boyhood hero Ayrton Senna.

Senna was killed while racing in the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 and Ferrari driver Schumacher admitted he feels privileged to be respected on the same level as the legendary Brazilian.

"He was my idol," Schumacher said. "I was 10-years-old when I saw him racing go-karts and I thought, 'Who is that guy going so fast?' Driving the way he did I thought he was special.

"There's one statistic that counts after the World Championship, and that's how many victories you have. Competing on the level of a person like Senna means a lot to me."

Having overtaken Senna's 41 race win record last term, the German driver also said that joining Ferrari in 1996 has changed him as a person, especially after his world championship triumph with the Italian team this year.

"I've changed a lot," he said. "I'm more relaxed and I made my dream come true."