Lewis Hamilton has won his second World Drivers’ Championship after the 2008 victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton, second in qualifying, took the lead at the start and controlled the race, as Mercedes team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg suffered car trouble and finished 14th.

He joins a number of other drivers on two titles, including his great contemporary rival Fernando Alonso. Michael Schumacher is the all-time record holder with seven, while the most successful current driver is Sebastian Vettel on four.

Nico Rosberg, who started on pole, was left struggling by the failure of his hybrid system. With two laps to go, he was told to retire by his engineers at Mercedes but said: “I would like to go to the end.”

As Lewis Hamilton crossed the line, Prince Harry, attending the race, took to the team radio to say: “Lewis, well done for not making the British public sweat. You are an absolute legend.”

Lewis Hamilton, 29, stood on his car to celebrate after he returned to the pits and then went over to embrace girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and his family, who had flown in for the race day to support him.

His win was his 11th of the season, compared to Nico Rosberg’s five, and he finished 67 points clear at the top of the title standings.

It was the 33rd win of Lewis Hamilton’s career, moving him clear of his great rival Fernando Alonso into fifth in the all-time list.

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