Hamilton "wanted to finish on a high" as he wins 11th race of the season

Five-time champion Lewis Hamilton explained that he wanted to finish off his title-winning season on a high, as he won his 11th race of the year in the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The Brit was never really in danger, starting from pole position and getting away very well from the start. He pitted very early while the safety car was still out for Nico Hülkenberg's mega-crash in the opening seven laps.

WATCH: HUGE crash for Hulkenberg at start of Abu Dhabi GP!

The strategy paid off, with Hamilton coming out of the pit lane in fifth but crawling his way back up the grid as the race went along as the other drivers came in for their pit stops. 

The Brit finished the race well ahead of Sebastian Vettel in P2, capping off what has been an amazing season from his point of view.

"I am so happy right now," he said after the race to track-side reporter David Coulthard.

"Accept nothing but perfection and that's what we were striving for as a team.

"I wanted to finish on a high. Seb was driving great, he was putting in some great laps. The wind made it tricky at the end, but it was the same for all of us."