After the sun sets over the beautiful, state-of-the-art Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, Briton Lewis Hamilton could well go down in history as the first ever winner of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and also the first ever champion of a day-night race.

The former world champion, who has been strong all weekend, claimed the first pole position of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The McLaren-Mercedes driver, who has had an up and down season, reeled off a best lap time of 1:40.948 at the 5.554km circuit in Q3 after having set a best time of 1:39.695 in Q2. He warmed up with a timing of 1:39.873 in Q1. Hamilton had a top speed of 230.6kph.

It was the Briton’s fourth pole position of the season after he topped the field at the European Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix.

Sebastian Vettel will line-up beside Hamilton at second on the grid after posting a best time of 1:41.615. The Red Bull Racing driver, who is locked in a battle with BrawnGP’s Rubens Barrichello for second place in the Drivers’ Championship, had a time of 1:40.666 in Q1 and improved on that in Q2 with a time of 1:39.984.

Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber followed him in the top order of the grid by qualifying third. The Aussie set a time of 1:41.726. Webber had a time of 1:40.667 in Q1 and 
1:40.272 in Q2.

Barrichello, who is just two points behind Vettel in the Drivers’ Championship, will line-up fourth followed by newly-crowned world champion Jenson Button in fifth. Brazilian Barrichello set a time of 1:41.786, while Briton Button had a time of 1:41.892.

“It wasn’t easy. But the car has been the best we have had all year. That lap for me, we could have been out a bit longer. But it was a quite smooth lap and it got better and better,” Hamilton said after the one-hour 
qualifying session.

Five drivers were eliminated after Q1 with the notable name being double world champion Fernando Alonso. Spaniard Alonso, who is moving to Ferrari next season, had a time of 1:41.667 in Q1. Renault’s Alonso will start the race from 16^th. Force India who have been strong towards the fag end of the season, also didn’t make it to Q2. Vitantonio Luizzi and Adrian Sutil will start from 17^th and 
18^th respectively.

Renault’s Romain Grosjean, who was fined 600 Euros for speeding in the pit lane during the third free practice session, too didn’t make the cut.

Ferrari’s hopes of taking the fight to McLaren for third place in the Constructors’ Championship were dashed as stand-in Giancarlo Fisichella brought up the rear. He too didn’t make Q2. So, was former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who just about missed out on Q2. The Finn was 11^th with a time of 1:40.726.

Kamui Kobayashi of Toyota, McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen, Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima and Jaime Alguersuari of Scuderia Toro Rosso too didn’t make the cut for Q3.

Toyota’s Jarno Trulli was sixth, while Robert Kubica, who will be moving to Renault next season, was sixth. He was followed by teammate the experienced Nick Heidfeld in eighth. Nico Rosberg, who will quit Williams after this race, was ninth. Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Beumi rounded 
off the top 10.