Lewis Hamilton is the Formula One champion for the second time after taking victory in the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi.
Much had been made of the double points on offer in the decider, which gave Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg a fighting chance of overhauling the Englishman.
Rosberg held the advantage of pole position but was behind going into the first corner after a lightning getaway from Hamilton, who knew second place gave him the lead.
The German briefly chased but engine problems put paid to his hopes and he trailed home 13th, while Hamilton took the chequered flag ahead of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas in the two Williams cars. ‘I’ve been lost for words,’ said Hamilton after he ended a six-year wait to regain the drivers’ title. ‘It feels even more than the first time.
‘It was a good start, probably the best start I’d ever had. Going into the race I had a couple of different options. If it was ahead I knew I had to race. Qualifying wasn’t perfect but we got it right for the race.
‘Nico put on an incredible fight throughout the year. We met in 1997 and always thought we would be competing together. He was graceful enough to come up to congratulate me. He just came into the room, very professional and he said: “you drove really well”. And the same for him.’
