Nico Rosberg has revealed his satisfaction that he qualified ahead of Mercedes' rivals as the German team look to secure second place in the constructors' championship.

He will start third for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix behind the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel and pole sitter Mark Webber

"Looking at the constructors', that is what counts for us, and we are third and fourth blocking out the second row of the grid," PlanetF1 quotes him as saying.

"Lotus is someone way back but especially Ferrari, who are our main competition, they are well back so that is a very good result for us in qualifying."

Felipe Massa is Ferrari's best-placed driver, starting eighth on the grid, while Fernando Alonso missed out on the top 10 shootout.