Nico Rosberg wins maiden Formula One world title, Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo third

After a decade in Formula 1, Nico Rosberg is finally world champion he’s won nine of the 21 races in 2016, beating Lewis Hamilton by five points.

According to several reports, Hamilton, who controlled the race from start to finish, disobeyed team orders towards the end by slowing down, thus backing teammate Robserg toward Vettel and Verstappen.

Sebastian Vettel finished third, the German trying to pass Rosberg but also careful not to be too rash and inadvertently end up influencing the title battle. Hamilton’s title defence had looked in tatters early on as Rosberg swept to victory in all of the first four races, but it was Hamilton who finished strongly, winning the final four races.

“We did it, we did it”, he whooped over the team radio.

Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton shake on the podium at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“But we won the constructors’ championship so it was down to me and Nico today”.

Discussing Hamilton’s mischievous tactic of attempting to back him into the chasing pack, Rosberg added: “Lewis was using all his skill to do it perfectly, so there was no way for me to manage to get by. I’m quite comfortable where I am”. “Big congratulations. His first world championship”. “Thank you for everything”.

When he won the first four races this year there was a growing sense in the Hamilton camp that the world champion had forgotten how to win a vehicle race and that he needed to plunder his memory banks as a matter or urgency.

Rosberg, who finished runner-up the last two seasons, emulated father Keke who won the F1 world championship in 1982. Rosberg won the last three races of 2015 and entered the current season with new levels of self-belief. The German has delivered his best season and is a worthy champion.

“Many moments were not so enjoyable”, Rosberg said.

He rejoined behind Max Verstappen, who had spun at the first corner after contact with Nico Hulkenberg and had cut his way back through the field on the super-softs and was looking to extend his stint.

“I couldn’t get close enough, he has the same auto as me. I take only good memories and experiences away from F1”.

It was not to be though as Rosberg held off Vettell and Verstappen in the closing laps. He passed both Red Bulls and closed in on the two Mercedes, bringing Verstappen with him.

With 11 laps to go, Hamilton was warned to pick up the pace because Vettel was an “imminent threat”.

While Ricciardo drove a solid race to finish fifth and claimed third in the championship he was once again left to rue a strategic decision. He made it hard for Rosberg by lapping fast enough to win but slow enough so others could catch up.

“It was tough out there”.

“Something or someone doesn’t want me to win this year”.

“So this is one side and the other side is the racer in me, and maybe I would have done the same”.

Hamilton denied using dirty tricks to hamper Rosberg.

Hamilton ignored them and then even ignored a direct order from Mercedes’ executive director Paddy Lowe four laps from the end.

Button said: “The result doesn’t count”. “I wouldn’t have expected him to do anything different”.

The Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the championship, really did have it all. “An unbelievable day and an incredible weekend”. Williams’ Felipe Massa and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10.

His long-time friend and engineer Rob Smedley praised him on the radio afterwards, saying he had had a “great drive”.