---
title: "Rosberg takes pole in Abu Dhabi – Qualifying Report"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2014/11/22/rosberg-takes-pole-in-abu-dhabi-qualifying-report/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Connor McDonagh"
section: "Abu Dhabi - Yas Marina"
published: "2014-11-22T14:04:45Z"
modified: "2014-11-22T14:04:45Z"
---

# Rosberg takes pole in Abu Dhabi – Qualifying Report

[![ros](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ros-300x200.jpg)](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/ros.jpg)

Nico Rosberg will start on pole position for the championship decider in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina Circuit. Lewis Hamilton will line-up second with the Williams duo of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa qualifying third and fourth respectively. Daniel Ricciardo will line-up fifth ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

The first part of qualifying was straight forward for the World Champions, Mercedes, who went straight out on the super-soft tyres and set the pace immediately. Lewis Hamilton led the way ahead of Nico Rosberg. On the other hand, Williams opted to use the soft tyres. McLaren continued to show strong pace at the Yas Marina Circuit in the opening part of qualifying setting the fourth and fifth quickest times respectively.

After missing most of free practice two, Fernando Alonso struggled to get to grips with the Yas Marina Circuit and was in danger of dropping out. He ended up only 13th fastest however it was both Lotus’s, the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez and the two Caterham’s of Kamui Kobayashi and débutant Will Stevens who were eliminated in Q1.

The second part of qualifying was once again led by the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa was second fastest with Valtteri Bottas third showing the battle for pole position could potentially be close.  Kevin Magnussen, who is fighting for his future in Formula One ended up eleventh fastest with Vergne, Perez, Hulkenberg and Sutil also dropping out in Q2.

As the battle for pole position commenced, Valtteri Bottas was the first man to take to the Yas Marina circuit. Bottas’ initial time was quickly beaten by team-mate Felipe Massa who was later displaced by Nico Rosberg who set the fastest time of the weekend with a 1:40.6. Hamilton ran wide on his initial run costing the British driver three tenths in comparison to Rosberg.

Rosberg improved by a further two tenths on his final run to secure pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton also improved but was a further three tenths down. Bottas qualified third with Massa fourth followed by Ricciardo, Vettel, Kvyat, Button, Raikkonen and Alonso.