The Formula One season came to a spectacular end in the Abu Dhabi desert this weekend, after Nico Rosberg was crowned 2016 FIA Formula One™ World Drivers' Champion.
Nico held off a late spell of pressure from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to finish just behind race-winner and teammate, Lewis Hamilton, making it is special double celebration for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team.
It’s been a truly record breaking season for the Silver Arrows, with the team having taken 19 wins out of 21 races - Lewis having scored 10 victories to Nico's nine - and both drivers being separated by just five points at the final flag of 2016.
Now the title will cross the Brackley garage floor; with Nico earning his maiden F1 championship title victory, before celebrating with his wife Vivian and his mother and father. In fact the family connection in F1 championship run’s stronger than most with the Rosbergs, as Nico’s title makes him only the second driver in Formula One history where a son becomes World Champion to a Father World Champion – with Keke, having netted the drivers title in 1982.
An emotional Nico told us: "Wow. I am delighted and I dedicate the championship win to my wife and my daughter. I am very proud to have done the same feet as my dad [Keke], but congratulations to Lewis. He too has had a great season and was a great competitor as always.
"The race was crazy and the battle with Max Verstappen; I hope I don't experience that again! It was so intense and it will take some time to come to terms with but I want to say thank you to all the people who have been supporting me throughout the world. It is a very special feeling for me and the people closest to me. My racing family."
Meanwhile, although pleased with his victory, the 53rd of his career, the feeling was bittersweet for Lewis, as Nico's second place means he relinquishes his grasp on the 2016 FIA Formula One™ World Drivers' Champion's trophy.
Lewis, who started on pole, tried his best to force Nico into a battle that could have swung the title race back in his favour, but was quick to praise his teammate for his successful season.
Lewis said: "I am happy with the win. It was relatively easy to get the win in the end, so a big thank you to the team. I was hoping Sebastian, with the pace he was on, would close up the gap but his tyres we're going off and Nico did not make any mistakes.
"I did what I could and drove well but at the end of the day, Nico had a clean year and had no issues, which is why we sat where we are now but there are still a lot of positives that I can take from this season. There have been a lot of great things that have happened. One thing is the bond with my new mechanics and engineers who came into my garage. That relationship is strong and that bond is real positive."
So there you have it! An intense, historic and edge of the seat season means Formula One has a new Champion - and he goes by the name of Nico Rosberg. A huge congrats to the man himself and the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team.
Race Result – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault
5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault
6 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
7 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes
8 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes
9 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes
10 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda
11 Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari
12 Esteban Gutierrez Haas/Ferrari
13 Esteban Ocon Manor/Mercedes
14 Pascal Wehrlein Manor/Mercedes
15 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari
16 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari
17 Jolyon Palmer Renault
- Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso/Ferrari
- Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso/Ferrari
- Jenson Button McLaren/Honda
- Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes
- Kevin Magnussen Renault
2016 FIA Formula One™ World Drivers’ Championship:
1 Nico Rosberg 385
2 Lewis Hamilton 380
3 Daniel Ricciardo 256
4 Sebastian Vettel 212
5 Max Verstappen 204
6 Kimi Raikkonen 186
7 Sergio Perez 101
8 Valtteri Bottas 85
9 Nico Hulkenberg 72
10 Fernando Alonso 54
11 Felipe Massa 53
12 Carlos Sainz 46
13 Romain Grosjean 29
14 Daniil Kvyat 25
15 Jenson Button 21
16 Kevin Magnussen 7
17 Felipe Nasr 2
18 Jolyon Palmer 1
19 Pascal Wehrlein 1
20 Stoffel Vandoorne 1
21 Esteban Gutierrez 0
22 Marcus Ericsson 0
23 Esteban Ocon 0
24 Rio Haryanto 0
2016 FIA Formula One™ World Constructors’ Championship:
1 Mercedes 765
2 Red Bull/Renault 468
3 Ferrari 398
4 Force India/Mercedes 173
5 Williams/Mercedes 138
6 McLaren/Honda 76
7 Toro Rosso/Ferrari 63
8 Haas/Ferrari 29
9 Renault 8
10 Sauber/Ferrari 2
11 Manor/Mercedes 1