ABU DHABI // Lewis Hamilton said he will be able to walk away “proud” if he wins Sunday’s Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but still misses out on a fourth world title.
The Mercedes-GP driver was 33 points behind teammate Nico Rosberg after the Japanese Grand Prix last month, a situation that left the destiny of the championship out of his hands, even if he won the remaining four races.
Hamilton has done what he has needed to since then; winning in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, but Rosberg has finished second on each occasion, meaning the gap has only shrunk to 12 points.
If the Briton wins for a 10th time in 2016 on Sunday he will not be champion if Rosberg finishes second or third.
Hamilton completed the first part of his mission for the weekend by taking pole position with a time of 1 minute, 38.755 seconds to edge out Rosberg.
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“I’ve always said that if I performed at my best in these races I can be here knowing that I gave it my everything and I performed at my best, then I can walk away being proud,” Hamilton said.
“Obviously, I had other things come in the way but I’ve managed to battle through all the different types of adversity that I’ve faced this year and I’m really proud of it.”
Rosberg took second spot on the grid, 0.303 seconds adrift of Hamilton, ensuring he qualified on the front row at every race this season.
While the result keeps him in position to claim his first world title, and follow in the footsteps of his father, Keke, the 1982 champion, Rosberg said he was disappointed to have missed out on a third successive pole position at Yas Marina Circuit.
“I have come here to try to be on pole and try to win the race tomorrow,” he said.
“I am not ecstatic by today, Lewis was just that bit quicker but there are still opportunities tomorrow and I’ll go for the win.”
• Full starting grid order for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Daniel Ricciardo was third for Red Bull Racing and the Australian will be on an alternative tyre strategy compared to the Mercedes car.
He is on the more durable supersoft tyre, compared to the ultrasoft compound picked by Mercedes, and Ricciardo said the move was simply to do something different to the two cars ahead of him.
“We’ve got to try something,” he said.
“It seems to be a bit of a trend this year. If we are in a position to qualify on different tyres then we will try to and see if gives us an opportunity.”
The second Red Bull of Max Verstappen, which starts behind the two Ferrari cars of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel, is also on the supersoft compound.
The Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, the McLaren of Fernando Alonso and the Williams of Felipe Massa complete the top 10 on the grid.
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