Valtteri Bottas took victory ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, as Mercedes ended the season with an unchallenged one-two finish yesterday in a processional Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Finn, who started from pole ahead of Hamilton, crossed the line 3.8 seconds in front of the Briton. For a few laps after the pitstops it seemed fans would be treated to a titanic battle between the two teammates on a day when their closest challenger, Sebastian Vettel, finished 19.3 seconds adrift in third. But although Bottas at one stage was warned to beware of a charging Hamilton, the 32-year-old frustratingly was never able to get close enough to pass, following in the Finn's wheel tracks for over half the race distance before backing off in the closing laps.

Valtteri Bottas celebrates on the podium yesterday. Pic/AFP