Williams confident it can finish sixth

Nico Hulkenberg may have secured the team's first pole position in 100 races - since Nick Heidfeld qualified fastest in the 2005 European Grand Prix - but it was the rookie German's eight-placed finish in Brazil that moved Williams ahead of its rival by 69 points to 68.

And while the team's technical director Sam Michael paid tribute to Hulkenberg's stellar qualifying performance, he added that he thought even more points might have been possible that the four scored in the race.

"His [Hulkenberg's qualifying] performance was exceptional," said Michael. "It was great to see him do everything right on the slick tyre at the correct time. He didn't put a foot wrong and warmed the tyres up perfectly to generate the grip he needed for the lap time.

"It would be reasonable to say that we expected more [from the race]. It was clear to us that we didn't have the pace to match the top three teams, but we expected to be fighting for sixth and seventh positions.

"Unfortunately we just weren't quick enough in the first stint with Nico and we also had the pit stop problem with Rubens Barrichello that put him out of contention. However, Nico did a good job to move us up in the constructors' table to sixth.

"We remain pretty confident and we are sure the car performance will be good [in Abu Dhabi]," he added. "Our target is to maintain sixth position in the Constructors' Championship."