Emotional Heidfeld elated with fifth

The German completed one of his strongest performances of the season to secure fifth place in the Yas Marina race, which was also the last for BMW, who is leaving Formula 1.

It could also be the last race for the team, who still has no place on the 2010 grid.

An emotional Heidfeld said he found it hard to keep his concentration during the final moments of the race.

"I am very happy with my fifth place," he said. "It was a good race in which I was able to get the maximum out of the car and score four points, which was enough to reach our target for the end of the season to overtake Williams in the Constructors' Championship.

"After I have been a little unlucky in recent races, this time I was really able to exploit the car's potential. For quite a long period I was able to go at the same speed as the world champion's car, the Brawn. The strategy to go for a rather long stint paid off and the track was even more fun when it had more rubber on it.

"It is a pleasing end to our last season together. It now becomes very emotional. During the last laps I had to pull myself together in order to keep my concentration."

Team-mate Robert Kubica finished in a disappointing 10th position after he struggled for pace following his first pitstop.

"I lost the race in the second stint when I was very slow, while in the first stint I was able to go at quite a good pace, similar to Rubens," Kubica said. "The car was working very well. After changing tyres I had no grip at all. The track was getting quicker and I just could not go at the pace of the other drivers.

"This was very strange. My fight with Sebastien Buemi was quite tough and a bit dangerous. We nearly touched when braking into the chicane. He first moved to the left and blocked the inside of the left hander. When I moved to the right he pushed me over the high inside kerb of the right hander section of the chicane and I spun.

"He did not leave any space at all. Thanks a lot to the team for the last four years. I hope to meet them back on the grid next year."