World champion Sebastian Vettel has admitted that he is confused by the puncture that forced him to retire from today's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old suffered the problem during lap one of the race, which ended up causing damage to the wheel and suspension.

"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," Vettel told reporters. "On the way back I damaged the suspension so 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.

"There is nothing that I did differently to any of the others laps."

Vettel had finished in the top four of every race this season up until this afternoon.