Lewis Hamilton raced for Mercedes one last time on Sunday, with Formula One's most successful partnership ending in a cloud of tire smoke, a radio love-in and a performance worthy of a seven-time world champion.

The 39-year-old Briton, who will be driving for Ferrari next season, arrived at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina circuit dressed in red and bowed out with emotional farewells flooding the airwaves.

"We dreamed a lot but together we believed," Hamilton said after finishing fourth in a season-ender he started in 16th place thanks to a plastic bollard becoming wedged under his car in qualifying.