There was good news for Ferrari too - not least in the fact that Kimi Raikkonen's fourth place, coupled with Daniel Ricciardo's retirement, helped the Finn vault the Red Bull man for fourth in the drivers' championship. It is the second time in three years that the Scuderia have had both drivers finish in the championship top four - before that, they hadn't achieved it since 2008.

Sebastian Vettel went one better, meanwhile - his second place in the championship is the best finish for any non-Mercedes driver since the start of the hybrid era back in 2014.

Vettel clinched that place by finishing third on the road in Abu Dhabi - leaving him just one shy of the 100 podiums landmark. Only three drivers - Michael Schumacher, Hamilton and Alain Prost - have ever broken that barrier.