(CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton won his first Formula One grand prix in almost four months as world champion Sebastian Vettel spun out of the race in Abu Dhabi during the opening lap. McLaren's British driver took full advantage of Vettel's slip up -- the first time the 2010 and 2011 title holder has retired from a race since the Korean Grand Prix last year. Hamilton fended off the challenge of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari while Jenson Button clung onto third in the face of fierce competition initially from Red Bull's Mark Webber and then from Alonso's teammate Felipe Massa. Vettel, who secured the 2011 crown last month, had his lead at the top of the drivers' championship cut to 119 points by Button, who sits on 255. Hamilton stays fifth on 227 points but closed on Alonso in third (245) and Webber (233).
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Lewis Hamilton wins only his third grand prix of the Formula One season in Abu Dhabi
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World champion Sebastian Vettel retires on first lap of the race after a puncture
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Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is second with Hamilton's McLaren teammate Jenson Button third
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Vettel's lead in the drivers' championship reduced to 119 points from Button in second
In his absence Hamilton maintained a two-second gap over @placeholder for most of the race, while Webber and Button's battle saw them swap third and fourth place regularly.