Nico Rosberg has said that it is "a pity" that rain prevented the conclusion of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix earlier today.

Only the first part of qualifying was completed at Albert Park in Melbourne before race officials abandoned the session.

The Mercedes driver, who was fastest in Q1, told Autosport.com: "It's such a pity that the qualifying was stopped because in those conditions I was feeling really good and the car was going well.

"A front row grid position was definitely on the cards today, so that's a bit disappointing.

"It's already looking a lot better than last year. We wouldn't have been that quick in the wet at the end of last year, that's for sure."

The remainder of qualifying will now take place on Sunday morning, ahead of the first race of the 2013 Formula 1 season.