Nico Rosberg finishes F1 season with three in a row in Abu Dhabi

The two Mercedes had started on the front row, and although Rosberg's pit stop strategy gave Hamilton a chance to move into the lead temporarily, the champion had to pit later for fresh tyres, effectively conceding the win.

"Austin (where Hamilton won the title) was the low point of the season - since then I've come back a lot stronger," said Rosberg during the podium interviews. "It's great to end the season like this, go on holiday like this."

Kimi Raikkonen drove excellently to take third, pushing his own Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel into fourth.

It was a less than thrilling race, with most of the on-track drama in the opening lap as Fernando Alonso and Felipe Nasr came into contact, sending the McLaren careering into the back of Lotus's Pastor Maldonado, forcing him to retire.

The podium presentations also included the award of the constructors' championship to Mercedes, who have dominated from the off.

"It's been an amazing year," said champion Hamilton. "I'm happy. I really have to take my hat off to this team. We've truly shown that Mercedes-Benz is the best team in the world."