Rosberg wins world title as Hamilton wins race
Hamilton disobeys team orders to speed up, backing Rosberg into rivals
Button, Kvyat, Bottas & Magnussen, Sainz out
Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst
As a driver right now the butterflies are in your stomach. You have to get your head totally ready for the start. Nico Rosberg doesn't want any distractions. Lewis Hamilton is much calmer.
Twenty minutes until lights out. I am sat behind a computer screen and feeling nervous. I can't imagine how the drivers are feeling.
I mean, what do you even say here?
Image source, Getty Images
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
Throughout the weekend you have seen a real change in their eyes. Nico Rosberg is the more tense of the two. Lewis seems much more relaxed and I just hope Rosberg is not going to let the occasion get to him.
Alastair Horne: If the double points lottery still applied, Lewis Hamilton could have guaranteed the title with a win today.
Meer Shah: If there is one driver out there who can overcome all odds and go on to win the 2016 F1 World Championship, it's Lewis Hamilton.
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier we asked for you to vote for your favourite race of the season and the far and away winner was the Brazil GP with 54% of you nominating that one.
It was certainly a chalk and cheese race. Awful for the first part but brilliant for the second.
Excellent colouring in!
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Phil Slocombe: Not Lewis's style to crash into Nico to win, but it is Nico's habit to panic and make poor decisions; Barca, Austria, et al
Parth Metha: Always a big fan of comeback from behind successes and so supporting Lewis Hamilton today!!
Liam: When your favourite childhood sports star retires, you realise your starting to get old!
Image source, PA
Image source, Yas Marina CircuitDrivers are heading out to the grid, with Jenson Button and Felipe Massa doing so for the final time. As Button walks from the paddock and through the McLaren garage he is getting a guard of honour from all the members of the team.
He's got a big, beaming smile on his face as he high fives his colleagues. I'm amazed he's held back the tears.
A great moment.
The Red Bulls and Ferraris have been closely matched this weekend, but the biggest threat to the Mercedes drivers, at least in terms of grid positions, is Daniel Ricciardo.
The Australian was trailing team-mate Max Verstappen all weekend but pulled it out as he often does in Q3 while two lock-ups into Turn 11 stymied the Dutchman. Adding some extra spice, both Red Bulls are starting on the super-softs rather than the ultra-softs of the other runners in the top 10. This is technically slower but opens up the possibility of a one-stop strategy if they can make the super-softs last long enough (to around about lap 19).
Everyone else will almost certainly be on a two-stop, switching to two sets of softs. Ricciardo said: “We’ve got to try something. Hopefully it puts us in the fight.”
Mail on Sunday
Image source, Mail on SundayThe Mail on Sunday ask 'Will Hamilton turn to the dark arts?' by 'pushing Rosberg into a melee'.
Their correspondent, Jonathan McEvoy, hopes that Hamilton does not, writing: 'Lewis Hamilton has far more to lose than the Formula 1 world title here today. And if he follows the advice of the schemers and plotters in the bulb-lit paddock he will do so by playing a game that compromises his name.'
McEvoy adds: 'Let us hope he is not won over to any such tactic. Hamilton has accumulated his dazzling reputation by racing form the front, attacking every corner with gusto, opening up huge leads. To surrender that for a mere world title is not to be celebrated.'
Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst
Jenson will be missed. He has been here for such a long time. He had a very smooth, rythmic driving style and he's a world champion and multi grand prix winner. A lot of the paddock will miss his demeanour but like every racing drivers' book, it has to change chapter at some point.
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Image source, Getty Images
Image source, .We're offering you the chance to tell us who you think this season's heroes and villains are. Head here to make your choices and share them on social media using the #bbcf1 hashtag.
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Image source, Getty ImagesTwo years ago Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg came to the final race in Abu Dhabi with the title on the line but that time it was the Briton with the advantage, holding a 17-point advantage with double points on offer. In the end, it was comfortable for Hamilton who took the lead at the start and powered away to win while Rosberg suffered mechanical problems and finished 14th.
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John Gooderson: Hope that Jenson Button has a great race today. He deserves a good finale. Won't forget the title win in 09!
LisaM: Can't wait for the race today! Would love Lewis to win another championship! He has tried so hard this season!
Andrew Musgrove: Sad to see Jenson Button leave today. Give him a decent car and he'd be battling for the podium week in week out
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesNico Rosberg got his hands on one trophy this morning, the fastest lap one. He got the most this season with six, compared to three for Lewis Hamilton.
Image source, .Sunday Mirror
Image source, Sunday MirrorAnother film theme in the Sunday Mirror who go with 'May the fourth be with Lew!' as the Briton aims for his fourth world title while hoping that Nico Rosberg finishes no higher than fourth.
Sun on Sunday
Image source, Sun on SundayThe Sun on Sunday goes all Flinstones with a 'Yabba Dhabi Do!' headline and say that 'Lewis Hamilton pulled off another crushing display to put him on the verge of completing Mission Impossible'.
Continuing the theme, they add that if Hamilton takes the title he will 'register a comeback from disaster even Tom Cruise's Hollywood character Ethan Hunt would struggle to match'
'Suddenly it's squeaky-bum time for Rosberg'.
Image source, Rex Features