![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ER7QGBWELP53FABKNU5DITYZVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=119a92ebc80f879b595533b72cd9dccd95f4813d0403945c28104d136de55df3&width=400&height=225)
1st. 2012. This race had everything. Crashes, overtaking, comeback drives, and a very popular winner. It was Kimi Raikkonen who prevailed to give Lotus their first victory in F1 since 1987. Vettel came through the back to finish third to boost his hopes of retaining his world title. Excitement level 5/5. Getty Images
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9th. 2017. A largely processional affair as Valtteri Bottas holds off Mercedes-GP teammate Lewis Hamilton to take the victory. Excitement level: 2/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RXO5ZKB2V5ZBYX7BWU7N2YLCT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=513b2b1a4c82cf40a704100011123d3e362a1563cdb3d7c9b8ad2850c3f386e4&width=400&height=225)
8th. 2013. Already crowned world champion Sebastian Vettel dominated the race. There was fun further back in the field as Fernando Alonso drove through to finish fifth, surviving a spectacular moment when he drove off the track to avoid contact with Jean-Eric Vergne. Excitement level 2/5. Getty Images
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7th. 2015. Nico Rosberg led throughout to beat Hamilton, who was already world champion. Vettel came through from the back of the pack in his Ferrari to finish fourth. Excitement level 2/5. Getty Images
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6th. 2011. Vettel's hopes of a third successive Abu Dhabi win lasted three corners before a puncture wrecked his race. Hamilton won the race in his McLaren ahead of Alonso. Excitement level 3/5. AFP Photo
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5th. 2009. The first third of the inaugural race was fascinating as Hamilton and Vettel duked it out at the front. But a brake failure put Hamilton out and allowed Vettel to go on to win ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber. Excitement level 3/5. Getty Images
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4th. 2014. Historically the most valuable race in F1 history with 50 points at stake for the winner thanks to it being the first, and only, double points race in the sport. Hamilton won to seal his second drivers' world title. Excitement level 3/5. Getty Images
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3rd. 2010. More history as F1's first ever title showdown involving four drivers takes place. It is Vettel who wins the race and the title, with Alonso, Hamilton and Webber, the other contenders, all ending the afternoon disappointed. Excitement level 4/5. Getty Images.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LHXBP3AAQVGVYNGWEM2EUZCHWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=521199b1a75d16b1b890590122e00bbd2625f041a2735f88b3280d8a5abd6a3b&width=400&height=225)
2nd. 2016. One of the most bizarre races in F1 history as Hamilton won despite driving as slowly as he dared for large parts. He knew victory was not enough to be champion if Mercedes teammate Rosberg finished on the podium. So he tried to keep Rosberg in range of the pack by driving at a reduced pace. It did not work as Rosberg took second to be champion. Excitement level 4/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ER7QGBWELP53FABKNU5DITYZVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=119a92ebc80f879b595533b72cd9dccd95f4813d0403945c28104d136de55df3&width=400&height=225)
1st. 2012. This race had everything. Crashes, overtaking, comeback drives, and a very popular winner. It was Kimi Raikkonen who prevailed to give Lotus their first victory in F1 since 1987. Vettel came through the back to finish third to boost his hopes of retaining his world title. Excitement level 5/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4BIT2BEAC3YR2GTLNHYBNTWNY4.jpg?smart=true&auth=ca423681779c32698f13a52491d3bcf6bc0d39fca2ffb3fb3af2859d9269bf40&width=400&height=225)
9th. 2017. A largely processional affair as Valtteri Bottas holds off Mercedes-GP teammate Lewis Hamilton to take the victory. Excitement level: 2/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RXO5ZKB2V5ZBYX7BWU7N2YLCT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=513b2b1a4c82cf40a704100011123d3e362a1563cdb3d7c9b8ad2850c3f386e4&width=400&height=225)
8th. 2013. Already crowned world champion Sebastian Vettel dominated the race. There was fun further back in the field as Fernando Alonso drove through to finish fifth, surviving a spectacular moment when he drove off the track to avoid contact with Jean-Eric Vergne. Excitement level 2/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CCT4R2ORYSF6Y24GGOD22JWXV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f78043fd793baf070bcc5c95da09f6bc0c2e84241869c65d4c353eac28322ea&width=400&height=225)
7th. 2015. Nico Rosberg led throughout to beat Hamilton, who was already world champion. Vettel came through from the back of the pack in his Ferrari to finish fourth. Excitement level 2/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VJZJAUU47AFDB24JD4XKWO4VP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0373bc53b4c962719d7a134aadec24de9b64a2ae0cb06d47b806c3eedd970cfe&width=400&height=225)
6th. 2011. Vettel's hopes of a third successive Abu Dhabi win lasted three corners before a puncture wrecked his race. Hamilton won the race in his McLaren ahead of Alonso. Excitement level 3/5. AFP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X2VLMHRONCQN7E6BFWGMA3RAC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f798f27f74f5bfa506fdaeee6bedf1c09ca2b892d0a47256785c9378bbca102&width=400&height=225)
5th. 2009. The first third of the inaugural race was fascinating as Hamilton and Vettel duked it out at the front. But a brake failure put Hamilton out and allowed Vettel to go on to win ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber. Excitement level 3/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3AANGRM7GPTT6VCEBTI2QNP2PE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdd18af3023306dea54f3858538b56bfbcd502baef5ec89bea93348045de0321&width=400&height=225)
4th. 2014. Historically the most valuable race in F1 history with 50 points at stake for the winner thanks to it being the first, and only, double points race in the sport. Hamilton won to seal his second drivers' world title. Excitement level 3/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R4WDZ6JW3KJGCN65VQLASFTHXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f58b239b3ddbbab1dd9c115a3a123c2db43b4f7838788bbd1f380238974669f7&width=400&height=225)
3rd. 2010. More history as F1's first ever title showdown involving four drivers takes place. It is Vettel who wins the race and the title, with Alonso, Hamilton and Webber, the other contenders, all ending the afternoon disappointed. Excitement level 4/5. Getty Images.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LHXBP3AAQVGVYNGWEM2EUZCHWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=521199b1a75d16b1b890590122e00bbd2625f041a2735f88b3280d8a5abd6a3b&width=400&height=225)
2nd. 2016. One of the most bizarre races in F1 history as Hamilton won despite driving as slowly as he dared for large parts. He knew victory was not enough to be champion if Mercedes teammate Rosberg finished on the podium. So he tried to keep Rosberg in range of the pack by driving at a reduced pace. It did not work as Rosberg took second to be champion. Excitement level 4/5. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ER7QGBWELP53FABKNU5DITYZVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=119a92ebc80f879b595533b72cd9dccd95f4813d0403945c28104d136de55df3&width=400&height=225)
1st. 2012. This race had everything. Crashes, overtaking, comeback drives, and a very popular winner. It was Kimi Raikkonen who prevailed to give Lotus their first victory in F1 since 1987. Vettel came through the back to finish third to boost his hopes of retaining his world title. Excitement level 5/5. Getty Images
Rating every Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Title deciders, double points and a puncture
A look back at the past nine races at Yas Marina Circuit to see which was the best, with Lewis Hamilton's go-slow tactics in 2016, Kimi Raikkonen's 2012 win and the four-way fight for the 2010 title all in contention
Graham Caygill
16 November, 2018
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