Nico Rosberg has said that he is enjoying a "great battle" with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton after beating the Briton to pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix this morning.

The German finished just ahead of Hamilton, who leads the world championship, in qualifying at Suzuka as Mercedes put both cars on the front row of the grid for the eighth time this season.

Rosberg told Sky Sports News: "That was one of the best qualifying sessions we did this year. The team did an incredible job to give me a brilliant car. It was so enjoyable to drive this wonderful track with that Silver Arrow.

"The balance was perfect, so I was able to push a lot and go to the limits in the corners. It's always a great battle against Lewis, we push each other very much through the sessions. Sometime he finds a tenth there, then I find a tenth here. That's why I enjoy the situation so much.

"For tomorrow I think we are well prepared. Even in the wet our car is very quick as we have seen in Spa this year. So I definitely look forward to the race here in Japan."

Wet conditions are expected for tomorrow's race, with a typhoon due to hit the area during the event.