Lewis Hamilton clinched his second Formula 1 world championship by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after engine problems sabotaged title rival Nico Rosberg’s race.

Hamilton entered the 2014 F1 finale with a 17-point lead over Rosberg, who finished 14th. Felipe Massa came in second just 2.5 seconds behind Hamilton.

Hamilton became only the fourth Briton to win two world titles. Michael Schumacher is the all-time record holder with seven, while the most successful current driver is Sebastian Vettel on four.

Meanwhile Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit is set to remain a feature of the Formula 1 World Championship calendar after a multi-year extension of the promoter’s license, the Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management, according to reports.

A press release, revealed the current agreement between the promoter and Formula One World Championship Limited (FOWC), which was due to expire after the 2016 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race, reflected both parties’ ambition to “lock in the Grand Prix for future years at an early opportunity.”

The announcement comes after annual sell-out events since the inaugural race in 2009 on Yas Island, the home of Yas Marina Circuit.

More than 125,000 local and international spectators are expected in the emirate over the weekend for this year’s race.

According to the press release nearly 50 percent of all spectators are overseas visitors to the UAE and those attending the race represent more than 120 nationalities,

“This race and the Yas Marina Circuit has introduced Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates to tens of millions of visitors and TV viewers from around the world,” Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management, said.

“We remain committed to continually delivering a better experience for the Formula 1 family and ticket holders,” he added.

“It is a mark of the quality of our partnership with Formula One World Championship that we both want to focus on looking forward and on delivering many more successful races.”

Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One group of companies, said: “Abu Dhabi has played an important part in pioneering the modern era of Formula 1 racing.”

“I said when the Yas Marina Circuit was opened that it may one day be matched, but it will never be bettered. The island has continued to transform each year. We have a wonderful partner here,” Ecclestone said.

A series of events and community activities have been taking place in Abu Dhabi as part of Yasalam’s momentous sixth year in 2014 - the largest city-wide entertainment programme run by any race host city. 

These have included performances by DJ and producer Armin Van Buuren and singer songwriter Pharrell Williams.

Bringing the race season, Abu Dhabi race weekend and the Yasalam Festival to a celebrated and powerful close tonight will be one of rock’s legendary and defining bands of all time – The Who.

Confirmed as the first official date of the Who Hits 50 Tour, their debut in the region will see the band take their audience on an ‘Amazing Journey’ through their entire career from the days of The High Numbers to classic albums such as Who’s Next, Tommy, Quadrophenia, My Generation, Live at Leeds up to the present day.

Who Hits 50 will not only celebrate the fantastic contribution The Who have made to musical heritage but also their remarkable contribution to youth culture old and new.