Rosberg beats Hamilton in season-finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

In the end he had to settle for a distant second place in a race dominated by Rosberg from pole position.

Paul Hembery, motorsport director for Pirelli tyres, commented: “As usual, Abu Dhabi delivered another very tactical race, during which Mercedes and Nico Rosberg in particular controlled the strategy perfectly”.

They scored two more points in total than last season, when double points were awarded in the final race.

Where things went south for Hamilton was the decision, apparently made by his team, for him to stay out slightly longer than Rosberg before he made his final pit stop.

Hamilton’s comments followed his posturing at the Brazilian Grand Prix last time out when he bemoaned his inability to run a different strategy to that of Rosberg in a bid to get ahead in the race.

It is suspected that certain changes made to the vehicle after Mercedes’ disastrous Singapore Grand Prix may have left Hamilton more unhappy with it, but Wolff is not convinced that may be the only answer. Button said his auto was the best it had been all season, although the rear was damaged in the impact with Bottas. By then the German was cutting swathes into his lead. The pace was good, especially in the first and final stint, the vehicle was also good and I managed to do some overtaking. They were still fine at the end of their stint so I honestly felt I could potentially have taken them to the end of the race. I’m sure it’s going to another great season [next year].

Rosberg got off to a flyer from pole and the slower Hamilton was immediately under threat from Kimi Raikkonen. But Rosberg’s was the broader smile this time.

Rosberg said afterwards: “Austin [the US GP] was the low point of the season”. It could start tomorrow for me. I don’t need any holidays.

“It’s always tough to race Lewis, he’s one of the best out there, so it’s even better to win against that opposition”, Rosberg added.

“Lewis did not win the last few races, but then let’s not forget it was great driving from Nico as well”.

They matched the number of victories in a season, set a new record for 1-2 finishes and racked up the biggest points tally in the sport’s 66-year history.

Alonso’s frustration after a season of disappointment with McLaren following his move from Ferrari may have influenced his feelings, but it could not hide the truths in his comments about F1’s current crisis.

Behind the two silver arrows, the luckless Fernando Alonso suffered a puncture in a collision with Pastor Maldonado’s Lotus, for which he was regarded as the guilty party, and given a drive-through penalty, taken after his necessary pit-stop for repairs.

The podium mimicked the grid starting positions but it was anything but a procession in between however, as thrills and spills enlivened the season-ending event, which might otherwise have been considered a dead rubber with the drivers’ and constructors’ championships already wrapped up.