Team by team analysis of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s German driver Nico Rosberg celebrates on the podium at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi on November 29, 2015 after the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix.

The victory was the sixth of the season for Germany’s Rosberg and third in a row – he also won in Brazil and Mexico.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 a little later, Rosberg said: “To finish the season in such a manner, it’s been a special end to the year – to have found more performance through the season”.

He pitted after lap 41 but instead of switching to the softer option tyres for the last 14 laps – Vettel had gone onto the options two laps earlier and raced strongly to the end – Hamilton was fitted with another set of the harder prime tyres and stood no chance of making up the deficit.

“It was a decision in his garage to go on (the ordinary soft tyre) to the end”. I will try to keep it going for the start of next year.

Raikkonen’s podium was enough to secure fourth overall in the drivers’ championship as he skipped fellow-Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams.

“Ferrari has made a big step forward from 2014 in 2015 and I have no doubt that they will do the same again in 2016”.

Both rookies finished an impressive season strongly, Verstappen already sure of ending the season as rookie of the year.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that he has been disappointed with his end to the year, but vowed to return stronger for the 2016 season.

Hamilton tried new set-up directions in Abu Dhabi last weekend, which included removing a suspension component that had been introduced as part of the development path by the team. It’s a great battle internally all the time. This kind of season, they need to make more sense about what they are doing because I don’t see this in WEC, MotoGP and other categories that are much more fun than us.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff speculated after the race that Rosberg’s renewed spark may have been caused by a release of pressure from no longer having to fight for the title. And with 16 wins and 13 second-place finishes, Mercedes topped the constructor’s championship with 703 points, a whopping 275 points better than Ferrari.

Ferrari followed close behind in Abu Dhabi coming in third and fourth. The speed has been there but there have been some mistakes.

When the lights went out, Rosberg made a ideal start while Hamilton struggled to stay with him and had to engage his best defensive driving to retain second place.

Sergio Perez realised Force India’s potential with a solid fifth, fending off a consistent challenge from Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo.

Will Stevens led Marussia team mate Roberto Merhi home, as Maldonado was the only non-finisher.

But while the Spaniard said ahead of yesterday’s race that he will be on the grid next year, his mind appeared to be elsewhere on the run down to turn one after going in too deep and crashing into the side of Pastor Maldonado.