'Senna was the greatest ever' - Schumacher

If he triumphs on Sunday in Magny Cours the Ferrari ace will match Senna's tally of 41 wins - the second-highest in history.

Only Alain Prost, with 51, has more and even that record looks within Schumacher's reach in a couple of years if he keeps up his current winning rate.

While Senna chalked up his total in 161 races Schumacher's sixth win in nine races - if it happens - will mean he has done it almost a year and half quicker - in 137 Grands Prix.

Schumacher also shares the all-time record for nine wins in a single season with Nigel Mansell.

Schumacher's dominance of the sport is such that he has 40 wins to his credit, five less than the rest of the 22-car field put together.

But as history beckoned the German played down his own achievements alongside those of the extravagantly talented Senna who died at the peak of his powers when he crashed while leading Schumacher in the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

"Senna is the greatest," said Schumacher. You cannot compare us because we are drivers from different eras, he and I.

"No-one can know how much more he would have achieved in his career if he had carried on racing."

Schumacher has always insisted he does not care for the record books.

"These things do not mean anything to me. Perhaps they are nice when you retire and you sit by the fireside with your children and reflect on your career. But not now, they are just statistics. My focus is on the championship."