Helmut Marko, the man who helped promote Max Verstappen into Formula 1, famously compared his new hire to one of the all-time greats before he even started a grand prix.

Asked in September 2014 who he would compare Verstappen to, Marko answered: “Most likely Ayrton Senna.”

If that seemed a bold claim at the time, it has certainly aged well. Today Verstappen is one of few drivers to have surpassed Senna’s tally of three world championships and 41 grand prix victories.

Senna’s untimely death in 1994 meant he never got to rewrite the record books the way he might have done. But the enthusiasm and affection he inspired, especially in his home country but also far beyond, made him a unique figure in the sport’s history.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s race at Senna’s home circuit Sao Paulo, Verstappen was asked for his thoughts on Brazil’s three multiple world champions: Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi and Nelson Piquet. The Red Bull driver said his single-minded pursuit of victory sets him apart from charismatic personalities like Senna.

“All three, I think, are very different personalities. All three of them have achieved a lot in the sport.

“Naturally, of course, Ayrton is also from Sao Paulo, so it’s normal that I think already the support probably is a bit bigger here. He probably connected more with people, but at the same time, sometimes personalities differ, right?

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“Some people really want to connect, or it just naturally happens. Some people don’t really care to connect. I’m going to be honest with you, I also don’t really care because I like to win.

“I’m here to win. That’s my dream since I was a little kid. If I look back at my career, what do I care about? Is that I win as many races as possible, not that I was creating a connection with everyone.

“I mean, that’s nice, it’s a nice bonus, but my job is to win. That’s what I was practising from a young age.”

Verstappen acknowledged Senna’s death, while he was leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, also contributed to his legacy. “Of course, also the sad story is that he passed away, and that probably then the affection and the legacy starts sooner. Unfortunately, it’s very sad, but that’s how it is.

“Was he one of the best drivers ever? One hundred per cent. And I think it’s very nice and special how people are remembering him and how much he meant to the Brazilian people.

“But I think at the same time in Brazil you have had so many great drivers. So it’s just nice to honour everyone, respect everyone and look back at it with pride that they have achieved so much for the sport, because also they then, I think, inspired so many future drivers, young drivers, and they still do, I think, to this day.”

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