Nico Rosberg grabs sixth pole in a row, Lewis Hamilton to start second at Abu Dhabi GP

Nico Rosberg driving during the qualifying race for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. (Source: AP)

Nico Rosberg won an Abu Dhabi qualifying battle with Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton on Saturday to take his sixth successive pole position.

The German, who races with the number six on his car, beat triple Formula One world champion Hamilton to the top slot for the second year in a row by three tenths of a second under the Yas Marina floodlights.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Force India’s Sergio Perez filled the second row behind the two Mercedes drivers, who will be chasing a record 12th one-two finish of the season in Sunday’s day-to-night race.

Raikkonen’s four times world champion team mate Sebastian Vettel, winner of three races this year, could qualify only 16th.