Bottas makes Hamilton settle for second in F1 finale

Valtteri Bottas won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday as Mercedes wrapped up the Formula One season with a one-two finish and four-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had to settle for second. The win was a career third for the Finn, who had started on pole position at the Yas Marina circuit, and denied Hamilton a 10th of the campaign.

BREAKING: @ValtteriBottas WINS the #AbuDhabiGP ahead of Lewis Hamilton (P2) and Sebastian Vettel (P3) ???? pic.twitter.com/LSD6Pq3RhI

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2017

In a processional race under the floodlights, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel took third place to finish runner-up in a championship that Hamilton won in Mexico last month. The final points tally was Hamilton 363, Vettel 317 and Bottas 305.

Valtteri Bottas ends the year on the ultimate high!#AbuDhabiGP #C4F1 pic.twitter.com/YG93bW3PCK

— Channel 4 F1® (@C4F1) November 26, 2017

Mercedes had already won the constructor's world championship for the fourth year in a row and ended with 668 points to Ferrari's 522. The one-two finish was their fourth of the season. Hamilton kept Bottas in his sights but was also unable to pass. He said it was not because of a lack of intent or team order.

Only three #F1 world champions have scored points in every single race of a title-winning season

1954: Juan Manuel Fangio 2002: Michael Schumacher 2017: Lewis Hamilton ?#F1FastFact pic.twitter.com/n7YjQ8putV— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2017

With the finishing order reflecting the starting positions, with the exception of Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo who retired with an hydraulics issue, the main suspense was in midfield. Toro Rosso, Renault and Haas were separated by just six points before the start, with millions of dollars in prize money at stake and Renault taking the honour thanks to Nico Hulkenberg's sixth place.

Smile! ?

One last look at the class of 2017...#AbuDhabiGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/4RcxR2yaRP— Formula 1 (@F1) November 26, 2017

It was still a tense evening for the French manufacturer team, however, after their Spanish driver Carlos Sainz was released from a pitstop with a loose wheel and retired after almost crashing in the exit tunnel. There was also an emotional send-off to Williams' veteran Brazilian driver Felipe Massa, the 2008 world championship runner-up bowing out after 269 starts.