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Lewis Hamilton still unhappy with the balance of his Mercedes W06

World champion says he has struggled with the car since Singapore; Hamilton unable to find a workaround; Abu Dhabi pole-sitter Rosberg hoping to end 2015 on a high

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Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton says it could be tough to overtake on race day around the Yas Marina circuit.

Lewis Hamilton says he is still not happy with the balance of his Mercedes W06 after being out-qualified by nearly four tenths by team-mate Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of the weekend's running Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 he arrived at the Yas Marina Circuit "thinking about the changes which have been made to the car from Singapore onwards".

The world champion hasn't been on pole since the Italian GP which preceded the night race in Singapore and saw Rosberg make it six consecutive poles under the lights in Abu Dhabi.

"It is just a balance thing. It has just been different for a few races now, but I did my best to get around, with the engineers we tried something completely different," Hamilton told Sky F1.

Hamilton expanded on those changes in the press conference, admitting that he had potentially disadvantaged himself by taking parts off the Mercedes.

"I've been struggling with the car all weekend, we've been working really hard to make some changes, we've had to take something off the car," he added.

"It generally feels a little bit better in the race, but it's been a while now I'm struggling on the edge with the car. I was a lot more comfortable at the beginning of the year.

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"I disadvantaged myself maybe a little bit with one of the things that I took off the car."

If Rosberg manages to hold onto the lead into Turn One on Sunday, Hamilton feels he may have to concede victory as he fears it will be difficult to overtake around the Yas Marina Circuit despite two long DRS zones.

"It is tough because whilst you've got the DRS zone down the back straight, you can't follow through turns two and three so the gap is normally pulled there and you might just catch it up a little bit down the straight," he said. "I would much, much rather be on pole."

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Mercedes' Nico Rosberg claims hs sixth consecutive pole position during qualifying ahead of the Abu Dhabi GP.

Rosberg gained much of his advantage in the final sector and says his pole lap was one of the best of his career.

"I am very happy, it is the first time that I have been ecstatic with a qualifying lap as I nailed that one," he told Sky Sports F1.

"It is a good feeling to end the lap like that. But there are no points for Saturday, the points are tomorrow and there is still a long way to go."

The momentum is with Rosberg after back-to-back wins in Mexico and Brazil and he would like to carry that high into the winter.

"I would love to win the race because it is exciting to win and it would be great to give my guys in the garage another reason to party tomorrow night," he added.

"It is also nicer to go into the winter break on a high rather than a low, it is so crucial and it can also help a little bit for next year - whatever I learn this year."

Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Report
Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying Report

Nico Rosberg takes his sixth straight pole position

Watch the Abu Dhabi GP live on Sky Sports F1. Race-show coverage begins at 11:30am on Sunday with lights out at 1pm. Watch all the Abu Dhabi GP for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.

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