Rosberg to start 2nd, superior Aldo Costa cars 1-2

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the rivalry between team mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg is like a volcano ready to erupt ahead of Formula One’s season-ending title showdown this weekend.

Lewis Hamilton will start from pole, with Nico Rosberg beside him, as he chases his Mercedes teammate for the Formula One championship.

“I will give it everything to end the season with a win”, Rosberg said.

“They have done all an incredible job and I want to thank everyone back at the factory”.

“Coming here while I have that fighting spirit in my heart from the last races I’ve done, I come here with nearly double the power in the sense that I feel that I want to win this race more so for him. I have everything to gain tomorrow so it’s the complete opposite end of the spectrum and I’m super excited”.

“I haven’t thought about that, I’m still thinking about qualifying at the moment”, he said.

“I’m proud of my season”, Rosberg said.

The defending three-time world champion outpaced the title favorite by just 0.079 second in the afternoon’s day-into-night session, Hamilton clocking a best lap in one minute and 40.861 second at the Yas Marina circuit.

“I think it is very hard to construct such a situation and make it work”.

“It doesn’t take anything from the achievement that he (Rosberg) would have achieved – that won’t change anything there and he will be champion – but for me personally, I will know and because of that it will be a lot easier to move forward”.

“I am not ecstatic about today…”

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was third in the first practice and fourth in the second, where the Red Bull driver was troubled by some tire issues.

It’s been fascinating seeing how different Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been approaching this title-deciding grand prix.

He is also keen to claim fourth place in the drivers’ championship in which, before the race, he is just five points behind Vettel – the man with whom he has had a series of run-ins and rows. “I’ve got my mum here and a bunch of really close friends of mine so I’m going to go out tonight and have a good time with them”, said the three-time world champion.

It was Hamilton’s 12th pole of the season, with Rosberg on eight. But we are very confident that we have chosen the right tyre for the best possible race tomorrow.

“I think we can find that little bit for tomorrow and it will be a good fight for third place – Mercedes are ahead, but not miles ahead”.

Jenson Button, in what will be his last ever F1 appearance, failed to make it through in the McLaren, although Williams’ Felipe Massa progressed in what’s set to be his final grand prix.