Max: I would have done the same as Hamilton

But the Brit was on pole and looking to grab his fourth straight win, while also hoping the German might miss the podium, which would allow him to claim the title for the third year in a row.

After Lewis Hamilton split opinion at the final race of the season by backing title rival Nico Rosberg into slower cars, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has revealed he would have done the same if a championship was on the line.

But Rosberg said he couldn’t afford to concede second to Vettel because he was concerned about the potential challenge from Max Verstappen in fourth.

In the end neither Vettel nor Verstappen could.

“I was generally quickest most of the year, so it’s definitely been a positive, a lot of positives to take from it”.

Rosberg opened the campaign strongly, while Hamilton suffered from mechanical failures, and the German had a 43-point advantage by the Russian Grand Prix.

Rosberg didn’t directly criticize Hamilton’s tactics, saying he understood that it was the British driver’s best chance.

Rosberg’s father – 1982 Formula One champion Keke Rosberg – said his son will need to be ready.

“Every Saturday night I get a message from my dad, normally it’s ‘pedal to the metal!’ Everybody has their part of this”. My mum on the private side and my dad for my career steps.

“It looked like he made a decision to get on with it at that point, we know Max isn’t the easiest vehicle in the paddock to overtake. It’s his way of stepping back a bit for sure”.

Rosberg appeared to be fighting against emotional collapse throughout the press conference. 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 wouldn’t have expected him to do anything different”. “It was so intense”.

But Mercedes have yet to reveal what action they will take against Hamilton.

Wolff said: “It’s very simple: anarchy does not work in any team and in any company”. “And with what Lewis was doing, I didn’t know how far he was going to push it also”. I thought about it but it was pointless.

As the 2016 Formula 1 season concludes, Nico Rosberg has successfully quenched his thirst of being a Formula 1 world champion despite vast pressure from his teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton.

“I’m glad it’s over – I’m ecstatic”.

“I’m sure the next few days will be pretty insane, but I look forward to that – it’s going to be special”.

“I didn’t see that he did anything wrong”.

Asked if he was annoyed by the calls from the team, he replied: “Not really”.

“Congratulations to Nico. He has driven a great season this year”.

“I’m sure it’s going to be pretty insane now and for the next few days”.

“Tonight’s going to be absolutely nuts”, Rosberg said.