Rosberg wins in Abu Dhabi to end season on a high

But Hamilton remained unruffled, possibly aided by the fact that he still took 12 poles to Rosberg’s seven and won 10 races to his six, and yesterday’s result gave Mercedes their 12th one-two of the season.

Mercedes were without a doubt the team to beat this season as they raced to victory in both Championship battles. “It was a tough weekend and since then I’ve just come back a lot stronger”. Next year can come tomorrow if it were up to me, no problem, I don’t need any holiday!

Lewis Hamilton has said he is still not happy with the balance of his Mercedes W06 after being out-qualified by almost four tenths of a second by teammate Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi.

Rosberg crossed the line 8.2 seconds clear of Hamilton – leaving the world champion with mixed emotions.

Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari completed the podium and his Scuderia team-mate Sebastian Vettel produced a fine display to finish fourth from 15th on the grid.

Hamilton regained second after Vettel, running on the “harder” tyres after starting 15th, ran wide and off at Turn 17, the champion making short work of his pass under braking at Turn Eight. “But it was down to the team which tyre we went to for the final stint”.

Hamilton had been fastest in the two earlier sessions and led Rosberg before he reacted to take pole again, as he did before last year’s showdown race.

“It is a good feeling to end the lap like that, but… there is still a long way to go”.

“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.

Before Hamilton came in, on the 41st lap, 10 laps later than Rosberg, he told his team that he wanted to stay out on his by now rather venerable rubber. “They have surpassed our own expectations and we have truly shown that Mercedes-Benz is the best team in the world and I am proud to be a part of it”.

Mercedes were mysteriously off the pace at the Singapore Grand Prix, and Hamilton has said he’s felt uncomfortable with the balance of the vehicle since. Lewis Hamilton was close to his teammate midway through the race, but a strategy change saw him lose out in the final stint and finish more than 7.7sec behind in second.

Sergio Perez was an excellent fifth for Force India with Nico Hulkenberg seventh, as Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was the meat in a Force India sandwich in sixth. I think we have to find out.

He also received a 20-second time penalty for ignoring blue flags.

Williams driver Felipe Massa was next up in eighth, resisting a late challenge from Lotus man Romain Grosjean.

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.