Nico Rosberg beat Lewis Hamilton in emphatic fashion to claim his sixth consecutive pole position for tomorrow's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The German, who is also bidding for his third victory in a row, finished the session more than a third of a second clear of his Mercedes team-mate under the lights at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Kimi Raikkonen was third for Ferrari but his team-mate Sebastian Vettel fell at the first hurdle and will start only 16th.

For Hamilton the wait for his 50th career pole now extends to seven races having last started from the front slot on the grid at September's Italian Grand Prix.

Rosberg feared his final race of the season would be compromised after running an older engine than his championship-winning team-mate. But on the basis of this evidence he need not have worried.

With only moments of the session remaining Hamilton appeared to snatch pole from Rosberg after posting the fastest time of the weekend.

But Rosberg, who saw Hamilton claim pole position in 11 of the opening 12 races this season, replied in convincing fashion to see off the challenge from the Briton. As such, Mercedes claimed their 15th front-row lockout of the season.

The Silver Arrows pair are so often joined by Vettel, but the four-time champion was the shock casualty from the opening phase of qualifying after he was knocked out at the first hurdle.

Vettel, who has enjoyed a strong debut season with Ferrari in which he has won three races, posted only the 16th-fastest time.

Vettel appeared to lose power during his final timed run at a track where he won his first championship back in 2010 and he will start towards the back of the pack.

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