Massa emulates Senna with pole

Monaco - Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa emulated Ayrton Senna on Saturday with a stunning pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix that his late compatriot once dominated.

Senna won Formula One's showcase race for five years in a row until his death at Imola in 1994 and Massa's pole position was the first by a Brazilian driver there since the triple champion's last in the principality in 1991.

A win on Sunday would also be the first in Monaco by a Brazilian since Senna's sixth and last victory on the street circuit at the wheel of a McLaren in 1993.

"I still remember like yesterday watching Ayrton on this track," said Massa. "I think he was the most impressive driver here, in terms of pole position all the time, winning many races in a row."

Senna took five of his 65 career pole positions in Monaco.

Massa's pole followed a victory for Senna's nephew Bruno in a GP2 race, the series that serves as a feeder for Formula One, on Friday.

"I'm sure the whole of Brazil and many Brazilian people were very happy because he looks very similar to Ayrton and it was very nice to see him winning a great race," he said of the 24-year-old.

"So hopefully he can be here with us in the future."

Massa had made clear earlier in the week that he disliked Monaco as a circuit, preferring 'real' tracks like Spa in Belgium or Turkey, and he still found it hard to believe that he could qualify on pole there.

"It's still not one of my favourite tracks," he said. "But I'm starting to like the track more day by day."