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Nico Rosberg takes pole for Abu Dhabi GP ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second Nico Rosberg takes pole for Abu Dhabi GP ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second
(35 minutes later)
Nico Rosberg took first blood from Lewis Hamilton when he won pole position for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg took first blood from Lewis Hamilton when he secured pole position for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
In another untidy Saturday qualifying session, Hamilton was well beaten in both runs and at one stage even looked in danger of finishing behind the Williams pair of Valterri Bottas and Felipe Massa, who are both expected to be competitive in the race. It was Mercedes’ 12th front row lock-out of the season and extended Rosberg’s pole advantage to 12-7 over his great opponent. In another untidy qualifying session, Hamilton was well-beaten in both runs and at one stage even looked in danger of finishing behind the Williams pair of Valterri Bottas and Felipe Massa, who are both expected to be competitive in the race. It was Mercedes’ 12th front-row lock-out of the season and extended Rosberg’s pole advantage to 12-7 over his great opponent.
The consolation for Hamilton is that overtaking should be relatively straightforward, at least in theory, on the long straights and slow corners of this rather undemanding circuit.The consolation for Hamilton is that overtaking should be relatively straightforward, at least in theory, on the long straights and slow corners of this rather undemanding circuit.
Rosberg won provisional pole with a very neat lap in the penultimate run, even though he said he lost a couple of gears. Hamilton looked in the mood to improve on that but, once again, he got a little greedy with what he demanded from his car and locked up at the end of the lap to come in nestling between his team-mate and Massa on the timings. Rosberg took provisional pole with a very neat lap in the penultimate run, even though he said he lost a couple of gears. Hamilton looked in the mood to improve on that but, once again, he was a little greedy with what he demanded from his car and locked up at the end of the lap to come in nestling between his team-mate and Massa on the timings.
Rosberg said: “It was a great day again again. I was really happy with the set-up. But it’s only one small step. I need to get the job done. I’m sure it’s going to be a great battle between the two of us.” Hamilton added: “Tomorrow is the special day.” Rosberg said: “It was a great day again. I was really happy with the set-up but it’s only one small step. I need to get the job done. I’m sure it’s going to be a great battle between the two of us.” Hamilton added: “Tomorrow is the special day.”
Hamilton had taken the psychological edge going into the qualifying shoot-out by topping Q2 ahead of the Williams pair Massa, Bottas and Rosberg, who made a mistake and had to abort his lap after running off the track. Hamilton had taken the psychological edge going into the qualifying shoot-out by topping Q2 ahead of Massa, Bottas and Rosberg, who made a mistake and had to abort his lap after running off the track.
As McLaren prepare to decide who will partner Fernando Alonso next season, there was more disappointment for Kevin Magnussen, who failed to make it to Q3. Jenson Button did make it despite the fact that he had to pit to be refuelled. Button sounded incredulous when he got the message to come in. “Can I ask why?” he said. His engineer came back: “Yes, we need to fuel the car.” Button replied: “Are you serious?” But once again Button proved that he was faster than his young team-mate. As McLaren prepare to decide who will partner Fernando Alonso next season, there was more disappointment for Kevin Magnussen, who failed to make it to Q3. Jenson Button did make it, despite the fact that he had to pit to be refuelled.
Button sounded incredulous when he heard the message to come in. “Can I ask why?” he said. His engineer came back: “Yes, we need to fuel the car.” Button replied: “Are you serious?” Once again, however, Button proved he was faster than his young team-mate.