Mercedes mull response to Lewis Hamilton tactics

For Hamilton, who was on pole at Abu Dhabi, it was clear that a race win could still not ensure him a title.

Mercedes insist they will not rush into a decision on whether to punish Lewis Hamilton for disobeying instructions in Abu Dhabi.

With the sport now owned by USA giant Liberty Media, the prospect of its number one box office attraction leaving the champion team is not likely. The German driver has been competing in F1 since 2006 and his debut championship, Mercedes’ third consecutive driver’s title, was secured in his 204th race.

Hamilton, meanwhile, misses out on a third straight title despite ending the year with 10 wins, one more than Rosberg. The Rosbergs are now only the second father-son combo to win the title since the Hills (Graham and Damon).

Hamilon needed to win and see Rosberg finish off the podium to retain his crown by winning a fourth championship.

“Now I have taken the world championship away from him which is a phenomenal feeling”.

Rosberg reacted by tossing it straight back at Hamilton even quicker than it had arrived.

Just like his father, Rosberg drives in the No. 6 vehicle.

The two 31-year-old drivers are contrasting characters. Since he, being the race leader, slowed down the pace of the following drivers in order to force Rosberg into a battle with Ferrari and Red Bull which could have forced him to finish fourth or worse – into a crash. It is massive. It is good how he is letting me get on with it. I’m very, very proud to have done the feat that my dad achieved.

Rosberg has finished runner-up to Hamilton in the past three seasons though in 2016 the stars finally aligned for him, even with tension between the two drivers erupting in some exciting battles on the track.

“Austin was a frightful experience for me”, Rosberg said. “There is so much more going on in the background that plays a role in how we are thinking and this is why I don’t want to express an opinion before I have actually made up my mind for myself”.

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”. The German finished second to win his first title.

But Keke Rosberg, the 1982 world champion who watched the race in Dubai before travelling to Abu Dhabi to revel in his son’s triumph, said: “I thought Lewis was lucky twice already, so why shouldn’t Nico be once?”

Rosberg repeatedly wiped his face and lowered his head several times in the post-race news conference, appearing emotionally exhausted as he tilted back into his chair and rubbed his eyes.