Formula One: Horner backs Hamilton in Mercedes row

Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment at Mercedes’ attempts to interfere in his duel with Nico Rosberg for the Formula One drivers’ championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix amid the fall-out from his plan of deliberately driving slow.

But Rosberg would stay calm as he holds off the hard charging Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen to finish in second place behind Hamilton.

Hamilton’s engine unreliability through the season led to suggestions from the media that Rosberg had lucked into his title triumph, though Keke pointed to the previous two years of Mercedes dominance where the British driver beat his son to the title. “That was definitely not the most enjoyable race that I’ve ever had!” a visibly relieved Rosberg said.

“My interest, once I passed Max, was to win the race, bearing in mind they are fighting for the championship. That is the rules”. Speaking on team radio, the pressure was getting to Rosberg as he followed Hamilton in second place.

Hamilton was asked multiple times by race engineer Pete Bonnington to increase his pace but the 31-year-old ignored the instructions. It’s really easy to understand the team’s side, because we’re doing a certain thing all year and it doesn’t change at the last race just because of whatever.

“And then I went and won the next seven races on the trot, so for sure it was a big moment for me and one of the key moments for being here today (Sunday)”, added the German.

“But I couldn’t get past them”.

“It was pretty chilled at the end”, he insisted. He pushed flatout from turn 21 all the way through the first sector and halfway through the second sector and that is where you overtake so I was never getting close enough.

“I’m going to have a lot of fun tonight, celebrating with the team and everyone”.

“We shouldn’t let (anything) overshadow the fact Nico is champion”, Hamilton said. “However they still felt they needed to make comments so we will discuss it afterwards as we always do as a team”.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: “We need to look at the overall situation and say ‘what does it mean?'”. This news story is related to Print/168428-Mercedes-to-confront-Rosberg-Hamilton-anarchy/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.

Fortunately Rosberg managed to keep his cool and blocked either driver from passing him.

He had seemed to be annoyed during the race when instructed to drive faster.

Verstappen, the youngest driver to win an F1 race, has earned a reputation for his risky overtaking and has upset other drivers this season.

That did not happen and Rosberg won the title on Sunday, to leave Hamilton wondering what might have been had his vehicle been more reliable throughout 2016.

At the end, the two smiling rivals were seen on the podium, as Hamilton congratulated Rosberg with a handshake.