2012 Brazilian Grand Prix The Brazilian Grand Prix

Well, where do you start? That was unbelievable action from start to finish. Light drizzle shaped the race as Hamilton blasted off into the lead and all hell broke loose behind him.

Vettel was involved in an altercation with Senna at the Descida do Lago and dropped all the way to last position, but the German showed his fighting qualities today and hauled himself through the pack to claim a third straight drivers' title.

Up front, the McLaren pair were being given a real headache by Nico Hulkenberg, who drove a great race, until he unfortunately lost control while battling for the lead against Hamilton, tipping the Briton into retirement in his final race for McLaren.

Jenson Button then came through to win, with Alonso doing all he could with the Ferrari that was underneath him. The Spaniard is the bridesmaid yet again, but he drove with passion throughout a hard campaign.

One final word of note for Caterham, who engaged in a great scrap down the field with Marussia, finally coming out on top in the battle for 10th in the constructors' championship.

But it's Vettel's and Red Bull's day and the resultant party is set to go on long into the night.

This was the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for joining us over the last three days of action. We will be back with the AUTOSPORT Awards from central London next Sunday evening.

Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction to a thrilling final 2012 race in Brazil.

Finishing 10th once again is a big cash bonus for Caterham, while it is heartbreak at Marussia as they are demoted to 11th.

Caterham are the big winners in the final constructors' standings with that vital 11th place finish for Petrov handing them 10th.

A win for Button takes him up to fifth in the final standings, but it isn't enough to stop Ferrari taking second place in the constructors'

It's a brilliant third in the standings for the ever-consistent Kimi Raikkonen, aided by the retirement of Hamilton, who ends the year 4th.

281 points bag Vettel his third consecutive world crown, with Alonso finishing second just three points behind.

Nelson Piquet Sr. is on hand to interview the podium finishers.

The top three stand atop the podium for the traditional end-of-race photograph, as the celebrations kick off downstairs in the Red Bull garage.

The champagne sprays on the podium at the end of an unbelievable race. Alonso ensures that team-mate Massa gets a soaking.

Wild home celebrations from Massa's home fans as he picks up the third place trophy.

Alonso receives his award for second place. So near and yet so far for the Spaniard after an epic season. The tifosi should be proud.

Button is delighted as he picks up the winners trophy for coming out on top of a dramatic Brazilian finale.

The top three drivers walk out onto the podium and God Save the Queen rings out for today's winners - Jenson Button and McLaren.

Five drivers retired from today's Brazilian Grand Prix:

Lewis Hamilton was inadvertently knocked out of the race by Nico Hulkenberg at the Senna S, as they battled for the lead.

Grosjean exited stage right as he ploughed off at Mergulho in the early stages, while Maldonado, Senna and Perez were all casualties on that amazing first lap.

Karthikeyan was 18th in the other HRT, while di Resta, who caused that final safety car intervention, was classified in 19th spot.

Alonso reflects on what could have been after a sensational season from the Spanaird, keeping the Ferrari in contention right to the wire.

Pic was 12th after a gritty drive in the Marussia, with Ricciardo 13th, Kovalainen 14th, Rosberg 15th, Glock 16th and de la Rosa 17th.

Vettel hugs the retiring Schumacher while clearly reflecting on the scale of his achievement.

Out of the points, but Caterham won't care. Petrov finishes in 11th place to secure that all-important 10th in the constructors' battle.

Kobayashi comes across in ninth place and Raikkonen scores the final point in 10th spot.

Vettel is clearly emotional on the team radio as he celebrates becoming the youngest ever three-time champion.

A fabulous achievement for the German. Behind him, Schumacher ends his Formula 1 career with a seventh place finish, with Vergne eighth.

Sixth place is enough for Vettel to become triple champion, after surviving a dramatic race afternoon in Brazil.

Sebastian Vettel is the 2012 Formula 1 world champion!

Webber takes fourth for Red Bull, while it is fifth for one time race leader Hulkenberg. But...

It's third for Massa after a great drive from the Brazilian in front of his home crowd.

Alonso grabs a brilliant second place but that's not enough for the title if Vettel makes the flag.

Another masterful performance from the 2009 champion in tricky conditions, once again perfectly judging his tyre changes.

Jenson Button wins the Brazilian Grand Prix!

Lap 71: Raikkonen moves up to 10th, Petrov to 11th, Pic to 12th and Ricciardo to 13th place. There will be wild celebrations at Caterham soon.

Lap 71: The safety car will pit, allowing a racing finish.

Lap 71: Button is now touring around to take the victory, with Vettel on course for title success.

Lap 71: Replays show that the Scot lost control of the car under acceleration up the hill towards start-finish and snapped sideways, hitting the barrier.

Lap 71: Big shunt for di Resta there and that surely cements the result.

Lap 71: Di Resta has crashed at the Subida dos Boxes and there is damage to the Force India.

Lap 71: The safety car has been deployed.

Lap 70: Replays show that Kobayashi tried a move up the inside of Schumacher and the pair made contact, with the Japanese spinning.

Lap 70: Kobayashi has spun at Turn 4 and he loses ninth to Vergne.

Lap 70: Two laps remain in a thrilling end to the 2012 season.