Weekend review and results round-up from Abu Dhabi and Rally GB

The most notable thing about the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was that Sebastian Vettel did not win it, as a first-lap puncture ended the champion's race and his winning runs both at the Yas Marina track, and in this segment of 2011

Vettel's exit opened the door for Lewis Hamilton to triumph on a weekend in which his efforts to put his 2011 troubles behind him had been one of the biggest pre-race stories.

Hamilton was not the only man looking to the future. The weekend started with news that Nico Rosberg had extended his Mercedes deal, though Michael Schumacher was tight-lipped about whether he was on the brink of doing likewise. And while Rubens Barrichello and Adrian Sutil put on brave faces when quizzed about their future prospects, Romain Grosjean staked his claim for a Renault seat with a strong Friday practice performance, the team continued to ponder Robert Kubica's chances of a quick return, and excited anticipation of a potential Kimi Raikkonen comeback ran rife.

Rally GB might therefore have been Raikkonen's World Rally Championship farewell - in which case his rallying adventure would have ended in a Welsh ditch when looking good for points. Not that many on the rally were too fussed about Raikkonen's fortunes, as Sebastien Loeb clinched title number eight early following Mikko Hirvonen's Friday disaster. Ironically Loeb then had a calamity of his own, ending his battle with eventual winner Jari-Matti Latvala.

The NASCAR title battle remains finely poised between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart with one race to go, as they chased Red Bull's Kasey Kahne home at Phoenix, and this time Kyle Busch stayed out of trouble.

In China, Peugeot notched up another win as the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup made its final outing before becoming the World Endurance Championship, while GP2 made a one-off non-championship appearance to support Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi, with wins going to established frontrunner Fabio Leimer and rookie GP3 graduate James Calado.

The F1 sessions

Button tops opening Abu Dhabi practice

Hamilton leads second free practice

Hamilton quickest again in final session

Vettel equals Mansell's record with pole

Hamilton dominates the Abu Dhabi GP

The F1 headlines

Rosberg extends Mercedes GP contract

Sutil stays calm over F1 future

Barrichello not giving up hope yet

Schumacher to wait to decide on future

Hamilton wants 'happy bubble' for '12