Rosberg: It has been close all season with Lewis

Nico Rosberg dismisses the theory according to which he is enjoying a late-season resurgence, saying he and Lewis Hamilton have been closely-matched throughout the 2015 season.

The championship runner-up claimed his sixth consecutive pole position in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, comfortably beating his Mercedes team-mate around Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday evening.

Also coming off two convincing wins in Mexico and Brazil, Rosberg has had the upper hand since the Briton wrapped up his third world title in Austin last month.

“There has not been any revival, there has just been progress and that’s it: before it was always really close,” the German said.

“Before it was close in the other direction, now it is close in this direction. I’m quicker at the moment. I’m very pleased about that; I'm just enjoying the moment and am happy to be on pole again.

“Lewis had that one-tenth edge, now it’s me with the one-tenth edge, today a bit more. It was also very close across the last two races.”

Asked how keen he was to carry his current momentum forward and extend it into next year, Rosberg replied that his focus remains on Sunday’s race.

“We have done our homework here, practicing well for the race on Friday, so we pretty much know what to expect and the soft tyre will definitely be the better race tyre that’s why we saved one set of those [in Q1] for the race.

“Primarily, I just would like to win the race because it’s a great feeling but also give my whole crew and the team a great end to the season and good reasons to party on Sunday night, that’d be awesome.

“Obviously whatever we learn this year as well helps for next year, so of course it’d be great to finish on a high.”

Rosberg’s sixth consecutive pole position – the 22^nd in his career – leaves him just two shy of Ayrton Senna’s record of eight that he had set with McLaren-Honda across the 1988 and 1989 seasons.

REPORT: Rosberg continues qualifying run with Abu Dhabi pole

AS IT HAPPENED: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Qualifying

Between the lines at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Use the red tabs on either side of the screen to scroll through more Formula One news and features

Click here for exclusive pictures of the Ferrari power unit

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter