Rosberg takes pole in final race of season
Hamilton completes front row for Mercedes
Nico Rosberg snatched his sixth straight pole position with a dramatic last-gasp lap in yesterday’s twilight qualifying session for today’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old German outpaced his Mercedes teammate, the newlycrowned three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, by 0.377 seconds with his final effort in a closelyfought session.
Hamilton had been fastest in the two earlier sessions and led Rosberg before he reacted to take pole again, as he did before last year’s showdown race.
Hamilton secured the 2014 world title in Abu Dhabi but clinched this year’s crown, the third of his career, with three races to spare. However, Rosberg has won the last two races and is now favourite for a third in a row with Hamilton seemingly out of form.
“Before it was close in the other direction and now it’s close in this direction,” Rosberg said of the battle between the pair. “I am quicker at the moment and I am pleased about that and happy to be on pole again.”
The duo secured a Mercedes lockout of the front row for the 15th time this season, a new Formula One record.
“I’ve been struggling with the car a little all weekend,” Hamilton said. “We’ve been working hard to make some changes but Nico was just quick today and did a really good job in Q3.”
Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari qualified third on the grid for today’s race behind the two Mercedes after his teammate Sebastian Vettel had failed to progress from Q1.
“There were no issues with the car,” Vettel said in a television interview. “We thought we had enough to get to Q2 but we were wrong”
Mexican Sergio Perez was fourthfastest for Force India ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams, German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Williams.
Russian Daniil Kvyat was ninth for Red Bull and Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr 10th for Toro Rosso.
Rosberg’s joy was clear as he punched the air with delight on his slow-down lap while Hamilton appeared bewildered and slightly crestfallen, his loss of form since winning his third title at last month’s United States Grand Prix continuing.
Rosberg’s sixth successive pole moves him within sight of Brazilian three-time champion Ayrton Senna’s record of eight, if he can continue his form at the start of next season.
Only four drivers have done better than six consecutive poles.
Senna delivered eight while French four-time champion Alain Prost, German seven-time champion Michael Schumacher and Hamilton have all managed seven.