Senna’s spirit guided me home, says Lewis

LEWIS HAMILTON explained how Ayrton Senna helped him win the Singapore Grand Prix, a victory that put the Briton a commanding 28 points ahead in the world championship table. Although Hamilton was the beneficiary of an accident that knocked out his title rival Sebastian Vettel, the Mercedes man still had to get his car safely home in wet conditions. He said: ‘Every now and then Senna pops into my mind. ‘It was the Monaco Grand Prix where he was in the lead and he hit the wall. That always comes into my mind, and it reminds me not to do that. I have had experiences like that. It is almost like he talks to me and tells me to stay focused and says keep it together.’ Hamilton, who has won the last three races with just six remaining, added: ‘Starting fifth, I definitely went into today thinking it was about damage limitation and trying to minimise the loss somehow. ‘I could have finished fifth and come out a lot worse. So to go in the other direction is a shock, but I will take it and I am grateful for it. The conditions were fortunate, fell in our direction, and we capitalised on it. ‘I was blessed by God today.’ It was a doubly good day for British drivers with Jolyon Palmer finishing sixth — the best performance of his career and a fitting reward for a fine drive. It won him eight points, his first of the season. Given he is being replaced at Renault next year by Carlos Sainz, Palmer’s performance put him in the shop window at the right time, with Williams potentially having a vacancy if Felipe Massa goes back into retirement. Palmer said: ‘It was my most enjoyable day in Formula One. It’s been a tough year, but we finally had a clean day. I could show what I can do.’