Abu Dhabi GP: Lewis Hamilton & Nico Rosberg title permutations

He is doing all he has to do and that is finish every race. He said: “A win was maybe not possible but second was”.

“There’s a 12-point gap so they are going to fight it out on track”.

“I’m still hunting, hunting”.

After losing control of his vehicle on lap 13, Marcus Ericsson unintentionally blocked the pit lane, forcing another restart.

Unfortunately, retaining the title he won past year may be beyond him in Abu Dhabi where the last leg of the season takes place. Good thing for him, things eventually got back on track and the race was finished.

“It was one the easier ones”.

“This is just mad”, said a furious Sebastian Vettel, who also spun earlier in the race, over the team radio.

Hamilton had snagged the coveted pole position for the race in the trials on Saturday, while Rosberg started alongside him on the front row.

While Hamilton kept his cool to claim the 52nd victory of his incredible career – moving him above Alain Prost and into second on the all-time winners’ list – it was Verstappen who stole the show with his incredible comeback drive.

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, talking on his radio, said conditions were too unsafe.

The red flag came after experienced Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen lost it on the main straight at the restart on lap 19 nearly collecting German teammate Sebastian Vettel as he went. “Right now I am just enjoying the moment”.

Verstappen, who had overtaken Rosberg had a major scare when he slid at high speed on lap 39 but the Dutch teenager managed to right his auto. “Stupid. What this race needs is a red flag”.

After a 35-minute delay, the race restarted behind the safety auto only to be red-flagged again eight slow laps later as the conditions failed to improve, leading to boos from the crowd.

Max Verstappen drove the most entertaining race, and was favourite for second after he overtook the championship leader after the second safety auto period with the German struggling to match the pace of the Red Bull driver. “To stand on the podium in Brazil where Ayrton was so loved was really special”.

Massa was in tears as he walked back to the pits, a Brazilian flag draped around his shoulders, in what will be his final home race.