2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Delight for the Enstone-based Lotus team as Raikkonen steps out of the car to celebrate a long-overdue triumph.

Seven drivers retired from this evening's race:

Pic pulled into the pits with mechanical problems during the second safety car period. Grosjean and Webber were involved in that mighty four-car incident at two-thirds distance.

Hamilton was leading comfortably when he was forced to retire with a loss of power. Karthikeyan suffered a failure and slowed dramatically. Rosberg couldn't react in time and slammed into the HRT in a scary-looking crash.

Hulkenberg was the first casualty of the day. He tangled with team-mate di Resta, Kobayashi and Senna in the first corner.

The top three drivers walk out onto the podium and the Finnish national anthem rings out for this evening's winner - Kimi Raikkonen.

That is followed by God Save the Queen for today's winning constructor - Lotus.

Raikkonen returns to the top step of the podium for the first time since Spa 2009 and picks up the winning trophy for his 19th victory.

Team boss Eric Boullier takes the constructors' prize for Lotus, with the Enstone-based team winning for the first time since Japan in 2008.

Fernando Alonso receives his award for second place. The Spaniard is delighted to claw back some ground on title rival Vettel.

A fine third-place trophy for Vettel as he reflects on a great comeback drive through the field.

The champagne sprays on the podium and Raikkonen takes a well-earned drink of the bubbly, before spraying team members below.

David Coulthard is on hand to interview the podium drivers.

Despite Raikkonen's win, it's a two-horse race in the drivers' championship now with Vettel's lead cut to 10 points over Alonso.

Red Bull is close to victory in the constructors' race, needing little from the final two races to take the title back to Milton Keynes.

Plenty of talking points in that one so stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction to an action-packed Abu Dhbai Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen returns to the winners' circle in Formula 1. We wondered if he would manage to deliver on the promise that Lotus showed through various stages of the season, but it all came right today and the Finn put in a superb drive to claim 25 points.

Alonso scores a vital second place and claws back some important ground on Vettel in the championship fight. The German had an entertaining day to say the least, but he will be delighted to get on the podium.

Pastor Maldonado deserves a note for a fighting drive to fifth, but the only man possibly unhappy to see the Venezuelan score good points will be the eliminated Mark Webber. Disaster for Hamilton after a great performance in the early stages of the race. Once again his Abu Dhabi curse struck when he was looking comfortable in front.

This was the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for joining us over the last three days of action. We will be back for the sport's long-awaited return to the United States at Austin's Circuit of the Americas in two weeks time.