Mercedes' Nico Rosberg wins season finale race in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: German Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg won for the Mercedes team the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Island here, marking his third successive victory of the season.

Starting on the pole position, Rosberg, 30, who holds German and Finnish citizenship crossed the finishing line after 55 laps on the Yas Marina Circuit, won by 8.2 seconds ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, Xinhua reported.

His success also marked Mercedes’ 12th one-two finish of the season, representing a new Formula-1 record.

In front of over 60,000 motor sports aficionados from over 170 countries, Finnish F1 pilot Kimi Raikkonen (Scuderia Ferrari) completed the race as third, ahead of his 28-year old German teammate and four-time F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel.

Mexican driver Sergio Perez (Force India), was fifth and Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) finished the season’s last race at sixth.

Rosberg is with 317 total points, second of this year’s F1 World Championships. Winner of the 66th season is his teammate Hamilton (384 points) who clinched the victory already on October 25 in the US Grand Prix.

IANS