Vettel wins drivers' title, Button wins Brazilian GP

The final race of the 2012 Formula One season got underway at Interlagos in Brazil on Sunday - under threatening skies.

The season-long driver's Championship was set to be decided in the final race of the year - with two-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel gunning for glory - 13 points clear of nearest rival, Ferrari pilot Fernando Alonso.

Vettel needed to finish fourth or better to clinch the title regardless of where Alonso crossed the line. The Spaniard would only have a chance by finishing on the podium.

It was dry at the start, but it was a chaotic first lap, and a perfect one for Alonso.

The Spaniard moved from seventh to fifth after the first corner, while Vettel dropped from fourth to seventh. Vettel then was hit from behind by the Williams of Bruno Senna and spun at the end of the back straight, dropping to last place after sitting backward on the track with several cars having to go around him.

Moments later, Alonso passed Felipe Massa and Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber at the same time to move to third.

Had they stayed in those positions, Alonso would have won the title.

But the Spaniard lost a position after locking his front tyre and briefly running off the track at the first corner, while Vettel - without significant damage to his car - began making his way back to the front, easily passing the slower cars near the end of the pack. He was already sixth by lap 15.

Alonso was fourth and Vettel fifth when the safety car was deployed for debris on the track eight laps later. Vettel then dropped to seventh at the halfway point of the 71-lap race, which still would have been good enough to clinch the championship.

Alonso briefly had the title in his hands again after more rain fell with 14 laps to go. Red Bull lost time while putting the wet tyres on Vettel's car, dropping him to 11th place, while Alonso moved into third. But after all cars pitted, Vettel was in sixth place, enough to keep the title.

Alonso moved to second after passing Massa, but he needed Vettel to drop a few more positions.

Hamilton started from pole position and kept his spot for a few laps before being overtaken by teammate Button on the sixth lap, and Hulkenberg got past the British driver on Lap 18.

Hamilton, who will replace Schumacher at Mercedes next season, retook the lead with 22 laps to go, but was hit by Hulkenberg when the Force India driver came in too hard to make the pass. Hulkenberg was eventually penalised.

Hamilton received a standing ovation from his McLaren team when returning to the garage.

Jenson Button rode a controlled race as the chequered flag neared and nursed his McLaren to a significant lead, ahead of the Ferrari duo of Alonso and Massa.

If the start was dramatic the end of the race - and the season - was anti-climatic as the cars were forced to line up behind the safety car after Paul Di Resta crashed just before the final lap.

The result meant that Vettel was able to retain his drivers crown and become the first driver with three titles in a row since Michael Schumacher won five in a row from 2000-04.

The only other driver to win at least three consecutive championships was Juan Manuel Fangio from 1954-57.

The seasons climactic race was also notable for the last outing by Mercedes driver and multiple former champion Michael Schumacher.

The German departs F1 again with numbers unmatched by any other driver. He retires with the most wins (91), pole positions (68), fastest laps (77) and most podium finishes (155).