Red Bull and tyre suppliers Pirelli are to investigate the cause of the incident that led to Sebastian Vettel's first retirement for 20 grands prix.

After making a perfect getaway from his record-equalling 14th pole of an epic season, Vettel's race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi lasted just two corners before an inexplicable right-rear puncture sent him spinning off track.

Although double world champion Vettel trundled back to the garage, the damage incurred to the suspension forced him out, leaving him thumping his steering wheel in frustration.

With it went an assault on two other F1 records - falling five short of Michael Schumacher's run of 24 successive results in the points, and unable to now equal the seven times champion's 13 race wins in a single season.

"On the exit of the first corner everything seemed fine, but then turning into the second I could feel that something was odd on the rear right," said Vettel.

"I had to catch the car surprisingly, and then the second time I couldn't do it any more as I'd lost too much air in the tyre.

"When I got back to the pits the resulting suspension damage meant we couldn't carry on.

"There wasn't anything we could have done better really this weekend. We just need to look at what caused the puncture.

"I had a good start and I was very happy with the car up until that point. To lose the race there, so early on, it hurts for sure."