17:03 We're on to the grid. A little while for the grid to form but Raikkonen last to stop and here come the lights. One, two, three, four, five ... GO!

17:02

Radio talk all about getting brake temps up and tyre temps in the zone. While cooling the engine. Big balancing act! #SheikhnBake

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 3, 2013

17:00 Hamilton very slow on the formation lap as he tests something but is catching the pack up again. Webber needs to back them up here

17:00 We're away on the formation lap in the evening sun. This place is a picture, let's hope the race is as exciting as 12 months ago!

16:58 Button is the highest placed driver starting on medium tyres in P12. Bottas, Gutierrez and Sutil also on mediums, as is Raikkonen at the back

16:57 Hamilton over the radio says: "Guys, I just want to thank you all so much for getting the car ready. Also this morning, I really appreciate it"

16:55 Even if the Red Bulls run away at the front, there should be some great stuff further back as Raikkonen tries to come through the field and Alonso looks to improve on 10th place if possible, although the Ferrari has not looked good here

16:52 After all that, why don't we talk about the pole-sitter Mark Webber? His lap was brilliant to take pole from Vettel, but he's often slow off the line. He needs a good start if he wants to take his first win in over a year

16:49 As always we'd love to hear from you during the race with any questions or comments. Either email us using the link above or get in touch via Twitter @ESPNF1 and we'll publish as many as possible

16:47 Hamilton also had an issue in qualifying, spinning off on his final flying lap with a broken right rear wishbone which stopped him improving on fourth place.

16:45 Potential drama at Mercedes - Hamilton's rear brakes are being worked on frantically by the Mercedes crew on the grid. Not the plan.

16:42 Although Raikkonen might be out of the equation, Romain Grosjean should be strong here. He starts sixth after a gearbox issue in qualifying - with the impressive Nico Hulkenberg just ahead - but the Lotus has looked strong on race pace and Grosjean's been in great form. He was fastest in FP1 but some reliability issues have slowed him since

16:38 Raikkonen will now start at the back of the grid having decided against making changes to the car set-up. It was the same problem as Grosjean had in Hungary but because Lotus hadn't strengthened the part (the floor was damaged on a kerb) it has been penalised

16:35 Qualifying was a close affair with Mark Webber taking pole position, but the big story yesterday evening was Kimi Raikkonen being excluded from qualifying after his car failed a front floor deflection test

16:30 Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from the Yas Marina Circuit. 30 minutes until lights out and the sun is starting to set as the cars head out to the grid

Lap 1

The two Mercedes with a good launch but Vettel gets in to Turn 1 first ahead of Rosberg and Webber. Hamilton baulked now and he's dropped back but Grosjean is up to fourth. Raikkonen is out and Button has front wing damage!

Hulkenberg passes Hamilton in to Turn 11 but Hamilton retakes it in the chicane

Lap 2

Vettel leads Rosberg by 1.9s at the end of the first lap. Raikkonen appeared to come together with Pic and he parked it at Turn 3. A wretched weekend for him.

We're under yellow flags as Raikkonen's car is cleared. A good start for Grosjean in P4 as he has good race pace, but Webber looks quick behind Rosberg. Massa holding off Alonso for P7 too

Lap 3

Vettel's lead is up to 2.4s. Replays of the start show that Button hit the back of a Force India, while Raikkonen appeared to break his suspension against a Caterham as he tried to dive up the inside in to Turn 1. Webber made a good start but Vettel was quicker in the second phase.

Button pits for a new front wing and a set of soft tyres.

Lap 4

Vettel now 3.2s clear of Rosberg. Grosjean starting to close on Webber and Rosberg though. Hamilton struggling to hold on to those in front but he's dropping Hulkenberg. Button is down in last place after his pit stop

Lap 5

Vettel with a very quick first sector but he already looks comfortable here. Webber with a slow lap compared to Rosberg and he has Grosjean in DRS range behind. Could be crucial for Grosjean to jump the Red Bull soon. Alonso not getting any team order help to pass Massa and he's dropping off the back of his team-mate now

Lap 6

A very fast lap from Vettel - almost a second quicker than Rosberg - and Webber now almost two seconds behind the Mercedes. Webber radios in "What's wrong with the KERS?" and is told it is empty and is being charged up.

Hulkenberg is sat in 6th place and looks strong with his pace compared to the Ferraris. Poor start for Ricciardo dropped him to 15th place having been in the top 10.

Lap 7

Vettel is told to maintain his pace to give Red Bull flexibility and that means get the hammer down. He's now 5.5s clear. Rosberg comfortably quicker than Webber and Grosjean looks quick behind the second Red Bull. Even Hamilton gaining on those two but then he pits at the end of the lap - perhaps looking for the undercut?

Lap 8

Vettel leads by 6.4s and Grosjean is being hurt behind Webber here. Hamilton has clear air on his new medium tyres in 12th place. Grosjean in DRS range but not quick enough in a straight line to attack.

Di Resta up to P9 as the pit stops take place and he's only 1.6s behind Alonso - more a sign of the Ferrari's lack of pace. Webber and Grosejan pit together. Where's Hamilton? He's just behind but Gutierrez holding up Webber.

Lap 9

All looks so good for Vettel up front - seven seconds clear. Webber straight past Gutierrez, but Grosjean has lost out a bit here. He hasn't cleared the Sauber quick;y and Webber's getting away from him. Hulkenberg pits from P3

Lap 10

Hulkenberg rejoins behind Hamilton, quite comfortably in fact. Grosjean passes Gutierrez using DRS but had to do it all under braking as he didn't have the top speed to pass. Rosberg in now as Vettel continues on his merry way

Lap 11

Rosberg rejoins in relatively clear air and has Sutil between himself and Webber. Hamilton is told he needs to drop back from Gutierrez and save his tyres if he can't pass, and he's struggling here. Traffic an issue for these early stoppers. Hulkenberg being helped by his team-mate and catching Hamilton quickly now

Lap 12

Vettel leads Massa by 23.3s but both yet to stop. Alonso has dropped 3.2s behind his team-mate and di Resta has Vergne right behind him in the fight for fourth. Hamilton still stuck behind Gutierrez and Webber also yet to pass Sutil, which is helping Rosberg

Lap 13

Vettel's pace is so good, he's just flying and looking after those soft tyres so well. I'm sorry to say it but only reliability issues will stop him winning from here. Vettel is the fastest man on track despite having yet to stop. Hulkenberg within two seconds of Hamilton now... Gutierrez doing a good job for Sauber here

Lap 14

Hamilton looking a bit ragged in to the hairpin but he is close behind Gutierrez on exit. The traction from the Sauber is mighty though and he pulls away quickly along the straight. Vettel pits from the lead...

Lap 15

A quick stop for Vettel and he rejoins comfortably in the lead. Massa and Alonso - both yet to pit - were more than a whole stop behind after 15 laps. Webber passes Sutil in to Turn 8 and Rosberg gets Vergne in to the same corner - he needed that as Webber looked quick. Raikkonen jumps in a car and leaves the track. Short weekend for him.

Lap 16

Vettel leads Rosberg by 16.6s after the pit stops. Webber attacking Vergne and he's through in to Turn 8, while Grosjean does the same right behind them to Sutil. Unfortunately for Grosjean, Sutil then gets DRS in the second zone and cruises straight back past.

Hamilton attacks Gutierrez but the Sauber defends robustly. Hulkenberg right behind them both. Alonso in to the pits and he comes out behind Perez in 14th place

Lap 17

Massa continues and he's doing a good job at opening up a two-stop possibility here. Grosjean still stuck behind Sutil while Webber is now 1.8s behind Rosberg with nobody between them on the road as Vergne pits.

Lap 18

I might want to take that back about Massa, his pace is dropping off now and he's three seconds a lap slower than Vettel ahead. Grosjean passes Sutil in to Turn 8 and then defends well in the second DRS zone to keep the place. Hamilton has another go at Gutierrez but he's unable to get past. Hulkenberg is right there now though so Gutierrez pits

Lap 19

Massa pits and rejoins in between Hamilton and Hulkenberg. That could help Hamilton. Even Perez is right behind those three. That stop has promoted di Resta to second after he started on the mediums

Lap 20

Vettel leads di Resta by 23.6s and Rosberg and Webber are directly behind the Force India. This is hurting Rosberg's hopes of beating Webber and even allowing Grosjean to try and catch them again. Vettel given a target lap time that's 0.6s slower than he's already doing. He's just so quick. Webber attacks Rosberg - both with DRS open - and Webber is through in to Turn 11!

Lap 21

Webber did lock up slightly as getting past Rosberg gave him greater straight line speed and he almost hit the back of di Resta. Di Resta pits and it suddenly all looks very sweet for Red Bull. Perez defends against Alonso in the first DRS zone but Alonso is through in the second one and up to P10

Lap 22

Vetetl leads Webber by 27.2s. To put it in to perspective, he's been an average of over a second a lap quicker and the last lap was Webber's best of the race, but still 0.7s slower than Vettel at cruising pace. Alonso trying to pass Bottas now, who has yet to pit, and he's through. Hamilton catching his best mate Sutil quickly too for P5

Lap 23

Webber is more than the length of the main back straight behind Vettel. Much more. Rosberg two seconds behind the Red Bull and has Grosjean closing in, 3.2s behind. Hamilton's caught Sutil now...

Lap 24

Hulkenberg still stuck behind Massa and that's dropped him three seconds behind Hamilton too. Alonso is 3s back and catching the Sauber ahead slowly. Pic told to let van der Garde past but asks "Why?" And has to be convinced why he should do it before finally relenting.

Lap 25

Hamilton can't find a way past Sutil and Massa has cruised up to the back of the pair, as has Hulkenberg now. Sutil very slow and probably set to pit soon... but not quite yet. Bottas finally pits so Sutil is the only man who is yet to. It's a train of five cars already from Sutil down to Alonso. Hamilton attacks using DRS in to Turn 8 and is through, but Sutil regains it in the second DRS zone and Massa dives up the inside of Hamilton too!

Lap 26

Rob Smedley is brilliant. Massa's race engineer comes over the radio and in a very calm manner - as if chatting to you on the sofa - says "That was sweet. I like that". Alonso dives up the inside of Hulkenberg in to the hairpin but the Sauber comes back in to Turn 8 with a good move. But ... Alonso then uses the second DRS zone to get past, as does Massa ahead on Sutil. A good few corners for Ferrari!

Lap 27

That's Massa up to fifth place and Alonso eighth. Hamilton still yet to clear Sutil and Alonso is right behind him. Vettel leads by 28.8s at the front, Webber is 3s ahead of Rosberg and Grosjean 3.5s further back. Hamilton finally through on Sutil - the tyres seem to be giving up a bit on the Force India and he couldn't get enough traction out of Turn 9 in to the second DRS zone

Lap 28

Hulkenberg with a slightly slow pit stop and he is released in to the path of Perez - could be in trouble there. Looking for the undercut on the Ferraris and Hamilton, I suspect. Alonso passes Sutil in to Turn 8 and is 2.5s behind Hamilton. Sutil finally pits.

Lap 29

As you were at the front - almost 30s lead for Vettel and those behind are all three or four seconds apart. Massa in P5 is 18 seconds behind Grosjean but I doubt he'll pit again. Hamilton pits while Hulkenberg is under investigation for an unsafe release. Sutil and Maldonado squabble over P13 and both run off track - Sutil rejoins ahead while Perez gets through ahead of Maldonado. Might need an investigation there

Lap 30

Hamilton pits and heads back out after complaining of something wrong with the car - "I just have no grip". Vettel sets the fastest first sector - as if he needed to - while Grosjean is starting to drop back from Rosberg, the gap over 4s there.

Lap 31

And Vettel does the fastest lap of the race, a full second clear of Webber. Perhaps he's thinking about a second stop soon, his advantage is ridiculous. He's told over the radio "Don't abuse the tyres". Perhaps he was getting bored on his own? Alonso catching Massa for fifth place, 2.5s the gap

Lap 32

Vettel backs off by about 0.3s - still so much faster than everyone else. Webber starting to edge away from Rosberg and 2nd-3rd-4th all appear to be looking after their tyres before the next round of stops. Hulkenberg going quickly but he's stuck behind Bottas in 11th place and Hamilton is getting away

Lap 33

Webber in 2nd to Grosjean in 4th is nine seconds, so anyone who can save a bit of tyre life for the end of the race could be able to make some progress later on. Rosberg first to blink as he pits.

Lap 34

Webber reacts to Rosberg's stop but Grosjean stays out. Ah, a drive-through penalty for Hulkenberg for an unsafe release. Such a shame as he was on for another strong result. Maldonado and Sutil also under investigation for exceeding track limits

Lap 35

Vettel is told the balance is stable but that his tyres are still wearing. Basically, 'slow down a bit, you don't need to go this fast.' Alonso within a second of Massa now but perhaps Alonso will stop again before the end of the race? Massa may be one stopping, as perhaps is di Resta - eight seconds behind them. Hulkenberg comes in for his drive-through

Lap 36

Alonso uses DRS but can't quite get close enough to his team-mate. Grosjean is lapping at a decent pace - 39.6s behind Vettel - but I doubt he can contemplate a one-stopper despite the stint he did in India. Webber and Rosberg are quicker than him now on new tyres.

Lap 37

Vettel's lead passes the 40s mark, although Rosberg has just done the fastest lap on fresh tyres and that will be something he wants to regain. Grosjean's last lap was only 0.2s slower than Webber so that looks good for him. Vettel pits. His fresh rubber will help him get the fastest lap back, I'm sure

Lap 38

Vettel rejoins but Grosejan pits. That looks like a very tall order for him to catch either Rosberg or Webber on track. He's rejoined right ahead of Massa and holds on around the outside of the Ferrari on the pit exit. Great stuff. That's hurt Massa a bit but Alonso can't get by.

Lap 39

Massa pits while Alonso continues. Bit of a slow stop for Massa, is that a chance for Alonso to jump him? It was the front left which was the problem. Vettel with the new fastest lap, predictably. Webber seems to have the pace to hold off Rosberg so the battle might become Lotus v Mercedes at the end.

Lap 40

Hamilton is ahead of Massa after those stops but on fresher tyres. If di Resta and Sutil are going for one-stop then Hamilton will have to pass them on track too. Rosberg four seconds behind Webber and 6.3s ahead of Grosjean.

Lap 41

Rosberg with the fastest first sector - the top four at this stage are all very evenly matched in terms of lap time - while Vettel is told to beware track limits by his race engineer. Hamilton with a quick lap and he's caught the back of Vergne. Massa is two seconds behind the Mercedes.

Lap 42

That gap might have just come down as Hamilton has a big lock-up in to Turn 8. Tom emails in to say: "The answer to Vettel is focus, focus, focus." You'd have to say a lack of concentration is probably his biggest threat!

Lap 43

Rosberg edging towards Webber - the gap is 3.8s now. Grosjean also going very quickly, suddenly, as the track temperature drops. Alonso still lapping very competitively and with Hamilton and Massa stuck behind di Resta and Vergne he's in good shape is he goes for the one-stop

Lap 44

Grosjean took almost a second out of Rosberg ahead of him on that last lap and is now 4.7s back. Still a long way to go here... Hamilton in to DRS range and he cruises past Vergne, keeping him between himself and Massa. Massa in the second DRS zone but Vergne has it too behind Hamilton so holds off the Ferrari. Alonso pits for a set of softs for the final 10 laps...

Lap 45

Alonso rejoins alongside Vergne and so nearly contact! He bounds across the kerbs, potentially off-track, and passes the Toro Rosso. The knock-on effect of that is that Massa runs wide at Turn 5 and drops back a bit. That was close. Battle certainly joined at the front as Grosjean closes to 3.8s behind Rosberg.

Lap 46

Massa passes Vergne using DRS for P8 but Alonso is already two seconds up the road. Alonso is chasing Hamilton - three seconds ahead - and he in turn is closing in quickly on di Resta. Alonso is under investigation for exceeding track limits for his move on Vergne...

Lap 47

Grosjean struggling to close at much more than 0.1s per lap now. Vergne going backwards and Sutil passes him for P9, while Perez is close behind. Massa told Alonso is on the softs so "he's quicker at the moment, let's see how they last"

Lap 48

A new fastest lap for Grosejan but that's only 0.1s quicker than Rosberg. Alonso then beats it and is just 2.5s behind Hamilton and 0.8s per lap quicker on the softs at present. Vettel's lead over Webber down to 31.3s, by the way

Lap 49

Grosjean with another fastest lap and he's 3.2s behind Rosberg. Webber 4.4s further up the road. Hamilton now a second behind di Resta and Alonso similarly close as Perez passes Vergne for P10 using DRS

Lap 50

Webber responding to any threat from behind with the fastest lap, but he's then beaten by Grosjean who is so fast in the final sector. 2.9s now between Rosberg and Grosjean. Di Resta, Hamilton and Alonso all in a line now with five laps to go. Di Resta realistically will be hoping to drop no lower than P7

Lap 51

Alonso uses DRS and has a look around the outside of Hamilton in to Turn 8. That puts Hamilton out of position in to the next DRS zone and Alonso is through in to P6. Vettel does the fastest first sector as he goes searching for the fastest lap, swiftly followed by a warning from his race engineer to be careful. Grosjean now 2.6s behind Rosberg

Lap 52

Vettel pumps in the fastest lap and it should be a safe one too unless anyone pits late. Alonso passes di Resta in to Turn 8 using DRS and he'll be investigated after the race for exceeding track limits passing Vergne. Now, will his soft tyres hold on ahead of Hamilton? Rosberg pegs the gap to Grosjean and looks to have that covered now.

Lap 53

Vergne pits as replays show Hulkenberg overtaking both Toro Rossos using DRS in to Turn 11 - he went straight through the middle of them! Hamilton yet to pass di Resta and Alonso should be safe in fifth place. In fact, Alonso does the fastest lap. Vettel won't be happy. Massa trying to catch di Resta and Hamilton but may run out of time

Lap 54

Hamilton will really want to pass di Resta, but if he stays ahead of Massa it's a good weekend for Mercedes in the constructors' championship. Vettel looking to regain the fastest lap but has traffic ahead of him, which swiftly gets out of the way. Grosjean 2.1s behind Rosberg. Time for a late charge? Hamilton not making much of an impression on di Resta right now as Vettel starts his final lap. Perez close behind Sutil for P9 too

Lap 55

Vettel isn't going to get the fastest lap, but he is going to win handsomely. Grosjean less than two seconds behind Rosberg but surely he can't close that over the final lap. Alonso with another fastest lap on his penultimate one, while Vettel picks his way round the final corners...

SEBASTIAN VETTEL WINS THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

Webber comes home second - half a minute behind Vettel - to make it a one-two and Rosberg is third, holding off Grosjean. In the end 2nd-4th was covered by just four seconds.

MORE DONUTS! Good on Vettel. Two fingers up to the penalty from last weekend. Alonso sets the fastest lap on the final lap, while di Resta holds off Hamilton for a very important sixth place for Force India. Unfortunately for his team-mate, Sutil loses out to Perez on the final lap.

Vettel pulls in to parc ferme and salutes the fans, then finds his parents in the crowd and gives them a hug. Christian Horner says there were no issues on either car and that Vettel was "phenomenal" today. You're telling me. Apparently Webber did donuts too, so that could be expensive for Red Bull!

Vettel and Rosberg both look very hot after the race and they're all discussing the start. Webber telling Vettel where each Mercedes was.That's the perfectionist in him, already working through the race.

Perhaps crucially, Alonso managed to pull a gap of over 10 seconds over di Resta in case he gets a post-race penalty. 20 seconds would drop Alonso to eighth place.

Vettel's parents look emotional watching him on the podium. He's equalled Michael Schumacher's best of seven successive victories today, and is two away from matching the all-time record of nine set by Alberto Ascari.

Trophies and champagne done, let's hear from the drivers themselves.

Vettel: "I did some donuts ... but I brought the car back to parc ferme this time! The car was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. It felt like I was flying some times.

"[On his parents] I love them so much and I want to dedicate this win to them. I've learned so much from them"

Webber: "In the first stint I was just not strong enough. Seb was in another category out in front"

Rosberg: "I'm happy, the aim for the weekend was to be best of the rest. Second place would have been the perfect result. If everyone in the factory can see we built the second-fastest car that's a real boost"

Vettel asked what his secret is, he jokes that he has traction control. Sense of humour, immensely talented, humble, close to his parents... With each win I sense he's really growing on a few people.

The podium ceremony comes to an end and it's time for us to sign off. That might not have been as riveting as last year, nor a surprising result, but what a display from Vettel. You wouldn't bet against him making it nine in a row by the end of the year. We'll have live coverage of the next race from Austin in two weeks, and make sure you stay with us on ESPNF1.com for all the reaction from today's race.