ABU DHABI (AFP) — A delighted Lewis Hamilton produced a near-flawless performance yesterday and then dedicated his spectacular victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to his mother on her birthday.

Hamilton, recovered from the worst lows of a rollercoaster year, took full advantage of the early retirement of double world champion Sebastian Vettel to win with comfortable aplomb.

Driving his McLaren with measured assurance and great speed, the 26-year-old Englishman dominated from the second corner of the opening lap to the finish as he claimed his third win of a troubled season and 17th of his career.

Afterwards, he dedicated his victory to his mother Carmen who had flown to Abu Dhabi to support her son and celebrate her birthday.

It was his first win in eight races and Vettel’s first absence from the points this year. It was the first time in 19 races that a Red Bull driver had not been on the podium.

“It’s my mum’s birthday this weekend,” he said. “And it’s great to be able to win while she is here. I feel fantastic. It’s one of my best races. I said that to myself as I slowed down.

“Being able to hold one of the best drivers in the world Fernando Alonso is something that is tough to do. I was looking after tyres and managing the gap. The team did a great job with the stops.”

Hamilton started second, but took the lead within a few hundred metres when 24-year-old German Vettel’s Red Bull suffered a puncture to his right-rear tyre and forced him to swerve off the Yas Marina circuit.

Vettel said: “At the exit of the first corner, everything seemed fine, but when I turned in I tried to catch the car, but I couldn’t do it any more and I spun off.

“On the way back I damaged the suspension badly. I don’t know what happened. We lost pressure all of a sudden out of the exit of Turn One. I don’t why…”

Hamilton streaked by and took a lead he relinquished only twice briefly during the pit-stops as he delivered one of the most accomplished performances of his 89 races in Formula One.

Two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso came home second for Ferrari, wiping away some of the memories of a nightmare race in 2010 when his title challenge was wrecked by strategic mistakes.

Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren fought through to finish third ahead of Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Australian Mark Webber and fifth-placed Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

German Nico Rosberg led compatriot and Mercedes teammate seven-time champion Michael Schumacher home in sixth and seventh places with another German Adrian Sutil finishing eighth ahead of his Force India teammate rookie Briton Paul Di Resta.