After leading the majority of the race, Hamilton lost out to Verstappen after the late Safety Car period in controversial circumstances which h🧸ave resulted in Mercedes protesting the final result. 

It was a diffic✤ult race for Bottas, who dropped from sixth to eighth on the opening ꦰlap and struggled for pace throughout.

The Finn was fourth at the S❀afety Car restart but dropped behind both Alpha🤪Tauris on the final lap. 

Even though Mercedeꦗs managed to secure a record-b𓆉reaking eighth consecutive constructors’ championship, Bottas wasn’t in a mood to celebrate.

“Of course, we wanted to get both titles,” Bottas said. “Getting the constructors’ again is huge but at the same time it hurts that Lewis didn’t get the drivers’... ꦰeven for me, I feel like I lost the championship because he lost it.

“I really feel gutted for him because I feel like he deserved it today. He had a great start, a great race and then things changed like this. That’s theꦉ sport, that’s ho🌠w it goes and sometimes it goes against, and sometimes it goes for you but today was not our day.”

Bottas’ five-year tenure with the te𓄧am comes to an end as ꧅he makes the switch to Alfa Romeo for 2022.

Bottas says he has “mixed feelings” about how it ended in Abu Dhabi but wanted to look at the bigger achievement and what he achieved at the team ✱alongside Hamilton.

“It’s mixed em🐓otions, like I 🐷said, I am happy for the constructors’ and really proud but at the same time, I feel for Lewis,” he added.

“Now it’s time for something new and I am really proud and thankf🌟ul what we’ve achieved together. We’ve done great things. It wasn’t maybe the best race to finish it but need to look at the big picture - we won five constructors’. 

“With Lewis, we’ve been the most succღessful teammate pairing in the history of F1 so it’s kind of sad to leave but of course I look forwar☂d to the future.”