Lewis Hamilton rues early end to Japanese GP qualifying

Suzuka: Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has rued the red flag triggered by Daniil Kvyat's crash in the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying that cost him a chance to take the pole position in qualifying here on Saturday.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg secured pole position, less than a tenth of a second up on teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat met with a horrific crash at the end of qualifying.

Hamilton was going great guns on his final lap but was stopped in his tracks by Kvyat's violent smash into the barriers, which gave Rosberg the opportunity to grab pole.

"That final lap had started so well - I was already a tenth and a half up by turn seven and getting excited," Hamilton was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"When the red flag came out I was like 'nooo! The start will be key tomorrow because you can't follow here and it is going to be very, very hard to pass."