Nico Rosberg ended the Formula One season on a winning high in Abu Dhabi today with team mate and triple world champion Lewis Hamilton following him home in a record 12th one-two finish for dominant Mercedes.

The German's third win in a row, from a sixth successive pole position, dashed Hamilton's hopes of a 44th career victory in car 44 on the 44th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates.

The Briton, who clinched the title in Texas last month with three races to spare, finished 8.2 seconds behind Rosberg after an attempt at a different strategy failed to produce the desired result.

Hamilton had asked over the team radio with 15 laps to go whether he could go to the end having made only one pitstop to Rosberg's two but was left in no doubt that such a move would not work.

He then pitted on the next lap.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took third place ahead of team mate Sebastian Vettel, who started 15th, for only the Finn's third podium appearance of the season.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso had a torrid race, with a crash at the start and a drive through penalty.

The win was the 16th in 19 races for Mercedes.

FULL RESULT

1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:38:30.175

2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes +00:08.271

3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 00:19.430

4. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 00:43.735

5. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India - Mercedes 01:03.952

6. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull - Renault 01:05.010

7. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 01:33.618

8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 01:37.751

9. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Mercedes 01:38.201

10. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) RedBull - Renault 01:42.371

11. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso - Renault 01:43.525

12. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1 lap

13. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes 1 lap

14. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber - Ferrari 1 lap

15. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber - Ferrari 1 lap

16. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - Renault 1 lap

17. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 2 laps 18.

Will Stevens (Britain) Marussia - Ferrari 2 laps

19. Roberto Merhi (Spain) Marussia - Ferrari 3 laps

r. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - Mercedes 55 laps

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