Hamilton calm about Mercedes ‘headmaster’ summons

Of more immediate concern for his team, however, was the three-time world champion’s actions and what, if anything, to do about his insubordination.

Hamilton qualified on pole and led into the first corner as he bid to overturn a 12-point deficit to bitter rival and team-mate Rosberg in Sunday’s season finale.

A relieved and jubilant Nico Rosberg savoured “the unique feeling” of winning his maiden Formula One world drivers’ championship on Sunday, but admitted: “It was a very, very tough weekend for me”. “That is the rules”.

“Nico drove well not to make a mistake”, said Hamilton, who was unapologetic about slowing in the later stages of the race to increase the chances of Rosberg being overtaken by other drivers.

Hamilton ignored two orders from the pit wall to pick up the pace – including one special request from the team’s technical boss Paddy Lowe – and was later accused of causing “anarchy” by Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team boss.

“From let’s change the rules next year because it does not work in those critical races and maybe we want to give them more freedom”. I don’t think Nico knew exactly where I was, but he knew that I was in Dubai. I think the working relationship has been better than ever, particularly going through all those experiences.

“It was pretty chilled at the end”. 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.

“And however, they still felt they needed to make comments, and so we’ll discuss it afterward as we always do as a team, and pull back in”.

Hamilton had left his disappointment within minutes of the race and joked during one television interview that he was looking forward to being called in “to the headmaster’s office”.

Talking about his father, who congratulated him afterwards, he said: “Every Saturday night I get a message from him, like “pedal to the metal tomorrow”, that is his word of advice”. Hamilton would have won the championship with a victory and a fourth-place finish (or worse) for Rosberg.

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

Hamilton may face internal disciplining from his Mercedes paymasters, but Verstappen believes he’d have done the same with a world championship at stake.

Rosberg went into the race only needing to finish third, to take home the title, in the event that Hamilton won the race. He became the second son of a world champion father to take the title.

“I did everything I could”, added Hamilton.