Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won 2015 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Briton could equally have made the point that he has already received his present after Rosberg gifted him a third world title in Texas with the mistake that allowed Hamilton to win the race.

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”. The re-emergence of Ferrari following a few hard seasons, as Vettel settled down well with his new team with three race wins.

“I’m not sure if I could have taken my tires to the end – some part of me wishes I had just given it a go”.

His haul of six wins for the campaign was one better than 2014 and his career tally of 14 Formula One victories leaves him two behind British great Stirling Moss as the most successful driver without a title. “Today was really a ideal race”. Having triumphed in Mexico and Brazil, let’s see if Nico Rosberg was able to make it a hat-trick by dominating Lewis Hamilton in this year’s season finale.

Running around at the rear, and just before the midway point of the race, Alonso suggested he had had enough when he declared over the radio: “If we don’t get a safety auto I will retire the car”.

“I don’t know. We have to do an intelligent list over the next couple of weeks to try to analyse”. I will try to keep it going for the start of next year.

Ferrari had a good day, despite Vettel starting in 15th after the team screwed up qualifying, with Raikkonen holding on to his third place on the grid and Vettel storming through the field to take a well-deserved fourth spot. That’s the Finn’s highest championship finish since 2012 when he was third overall.

“We took some learning on board off that weekend and whether the vehicle has come more towards Nico and gone away from Lewis, it could be a factor but I wouldn’t want to reduce it to one factor, there could be many factors playing a role”. Red Bull Racing’s Danile Ricciardo split the Force India’s of Perez and Nico Hulkenberg by finishing sixth. “I’m sure the team is going to give us an awesome vehicle again”.

Daniil Kvyat took the final point in his Red Bull with Carlos Sainz in P11 for Toro Rosso followed by McLaren Honda’s Jenson Button and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas, the latter out of position after losing time when he was released into the path of JB during his first pit stop. He was also later hit with a drive-through penalty when the stewards judged he was at fault.