The Brit took the chequered flag – and 50 points – under the lights at the Yas Marina circuit, while Rosberg could only nurse his injured car home in fourteenth spot.

That means Hamilton ends the season with 384 points to Rosberg's 317, making him only the fourth Briton in history to win two world titles, after Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart.

After the furore over the award of double points in the run-up to this Grand Prix, in the event Hamilton's victory turned out to be remarkably straightforward. Qualifying in second place behind Rosberg, he passed his teammate on the run down to the first corner, nailing his start as the German bogged down off the line.

Hamilton then proceeded to stretch out a 2.7-second lead by the first round of pitstops, a gap he maintained until Rosberg's car suffered a failure of its energy recovery system around the halfway mark of the race.

As Rosberg went backward through the field, Hamilton was left to coast to victory, with only Felipe Massa – who finished second in his Williams – able to exert any pressure on the Brit.

As Hamilton crossed the line to secure his second championship, Prince Harry seized the Merc team radio, saying, "Lewis, well done for not making the British public sweat. You are an absolute legend."

Hamilton described the victory as 'the greatest day of my life'. "2008 [the year of his first drivers' title] was a great year in my life," said Lewis after the race. "The feeling I have now is way, way past that."

Jenson Button took fifth place for McLaren, securing the Woking team fifth spot in the constructors' championship ahead of Force India. It might prove to be Button's last-ever F1 race, with McLaren apparently yet to decide whether the veteran Brit, or Kevin Magnussen, will partner Fernando Alonso next year.

Sebastian Vettel finished eighth in his final outing for Red Bull, after starting the race – with teammate Daniel Ricciardo – in the pit lane, after both Red Bull cars were found to be sporting illegally flexible front wings.

But the day was all about Hamilton. Before the race, he promised to 'drive it like he stole it', and in the end delivered. It was his eleventh victory of the season – Rosberg won just five times – and moves Hamilton up to fifth in F1's all-time win list.

A worthy world champion indeed. Lewis, Top Gear salutes you. Enjoy that alcohol-free champagne...