The young German Sebastian Vettel has won the final round of the world motor racing championship in Abu Dhabi, taking the chequered flag nearly 18 seconds ahead of his Australian teammate Mark Webber.
Vettel's fourth win of the season confirmed him in second pace in the championship behind Jenson Button who finished third this morning after sealing the title in Brazil two weeks ago.
McLaren's outgoing world champion Lewis Hamilton had led from pole position but his hopes vanished after 20 laps when he retired with a brake problem.
The season finale, against the stunning backdrop of the most lavish circuit in Formula One, was low on thrills or incidents other than Button's determined chase of Webber for the minor placings, with only 6/10ths of a second separating them across the line.
