McLaren struggled, with Kimi Raikkonen eighth fastest and David Coulthard 11th in Friday's first practice for the San Marino Grand Prix.
"He's got the old matador spirit, that's for sure."
Jordan's Indian ace posted his third finish in four races in the Formula One championship.
Honda's Otmar Szafnauer said Imola represented the first of several significant steps planned by BAR's Japanese engine partner this season.
Briton Jenson Button looked a threat to the Ferrari with the second best lap in both 45 minute sessions. \n\n
The F2002 ran in 15 races last year and was beaten only once -- by McLaren's David Coulthard in Monaco -- as Ferrari powered to 15 wins in 17 races.
Williams will have a picture of Ayrton Senna on their car this season as Formula One marks the 20th anniversary of the triple champion's death.
"The comparison? I see still Ayrton winning the game because in the end Ayrton was such a charming guy and a personality. And obviously if someone loses his life and stays with us in the way of a legend, it's always something special. But I try to see it from a performance point and from a performance point, Lewis is going from one pole position to the next one and Lewis is going from one race win to the next one. Just like Ayrton did."
Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on pole position for their home Italian Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday in a qualifying session that ended in farce and with drivers under investigation.
Marussia will race with only one car in Sunday's Russian Formula One Grand Prix out of respect for their severely injured French driver Jules Bianchi, the team said on Friday.
The father of French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi says he is "less optimistic" that his son will recover from the severe head injuries he suffered in a Japanese Grand Prix crash last October.
Lewis Hamilton always dreamed of matching the achievements of his boyhood idol Ayrton Senna, winning as many races and titles as the late great Brazilian who had inspired him to beat the odds.
Formula One world champions past and present paid their respects to Jules Bianchi and mourned one of their own at the French driver's funeral on Tuesday.
Triple world champion Lewis Hamilton produced a moment of Montreal magic on Saturday to put his Mercedes on pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix and equal Ayrton Senna's career haul of 65.
Formula One is as safe as it has ever been but danger will always be part of the sport.
French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died of critical head injuries.
Rediff.com lists 10 athletes who died way before time.
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