Hamilton secures front row in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton [ Images ] put McLaren [ Images ] on pole position for the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [ Images ] on Saturday after a floodlit qualifying session at the glittering new Yas Marina circuit.

The outgoing world champion grabbed the 17th pole of his 52-race Formula One career to push Red Bull's German Sebastian Vettel [ Images ] into second place for the sport's first day-to-night race and season-ender.

Australian Mark Webber [ Images ], winner of the last race in Brazil [ Images ] for Red Bull, starts third on the grid with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello [ Images ] alongside for new champions Brawn GP.

Jenson Button [ Images ], who has already clinched the drivers' championship with a race to spare, qualified fifth for Brawn after failing to secure the first all-British front row since 1995.

Neither Ferrari [ Images ] made it to the final session of qualifying, with 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen [ Images ] pegged back in 11th place on the starting grid for his last race with the Italian team.

Italian stand-in Giancarlo Fisichella [ Images ], with injured Brazilian Felipe Massa [ Images ] looking on, qualified last for what will also be his last Formula One appearance before he becomes Ferrari's test driver.

"I was only a tenth slower than Kimi up until the last sector, but then there was a lot of understeer and the car wouldn't work so unfortunately I didn't get through," the Roman told the BBC.

Renault's [ Images ] double world champion Fernando Alonso [ Images ], who replaces Raikkonen at Ferrari, also had a demoralising afternoon and qualified 16th - equalling his worst Saturday performance of the season.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen [ Images ], who had been quickest in Friday free practice, was 13th after suffering a gearbox problem that will demote him five places if the team have to change it.