Rosberg claims maiden F1 titleposted in F127 | 11 | 2016

LEWIS HAMILTON WON his 10th grand prix of the year — more than anyone else, and fourth in a row — but frustratingly failed to stop his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg clinching his maiden F1 world title by just five points.

Hamilton, starting from pole position, utterly dominated the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, but despite backing Rosberg into the two Red Bulls and two Ferrari’s, the German managed to cling on to second place to seal the title.

Rosberg knew if Hamilton won, all he had to do as finish on the podium to seal the title. But Hamilton, ignoring instructions from the team to speed up, kept the pace slow in the final stint in the hope two rivals could ease past Rosberg.

In the end, Rosberg fended off the fast-charging Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel to retain second and take the title in a nerve-racking final few laps to the season.

Rosberg won the world title by five points at Yas Marina to become F1's 33rd world champion, 34 years after his father Keke achieved the feat.

Afterwards, Rosberg described the dramatic race as "not enjoyable" after a tense finale with Hamilton.

Rosberg repeatedly complained on the radio about Hamilton's pace, even asking to be let through and promising to allow Hamilton back ahead at the finish if the Briton held onto second.

Asked afterwards if his race was 'just another day in the office', Rosberg replied: "Hell no, that was definitely not the most enjoyable race I've ever had.

"With Max (Verstappen) in the beginning running ahead of me by stopping late and then with those guys coming up in the end, definitely not very enjoyable in those last few laps.

"I'm very glad it's over. I'm unbelievably ecstatic.

"Congratulations to Lewis, he did a great season, a great competitor; it is always tough to beat you."

Up until the final few laps, when the top four cars were covered by just over 1.5s to fourth-placed Max Verstappen, the most thrilling incident was when Mercedes instructed Rosberg he needed to pass the Dutchman’s Red Bull.

Verstappen had been clipped into a spin by Nico Hulkenberg on the opening lap, but had charged back up through the field from last place. After the opening round of pitstops, Rosberg joined behind Verstappen who was bidding to do a one-stopper and was driving purposefully slowly.

Aware the pace was compromising Rosberg’s title hopes, Mercedes instructed him to pass the Red Bull. For a few moments Rosberg put his title on the line as he went wheel-to-wheel to pass Verstappen through Turns 8 and 9 before covering the line into Turn 11 to retake second.

After the two Mercedes stopped for their second tyre change, they emerged second and third behind Vettel until the German pitted. For the remainder of the race, Hamilton — understandably, as he bid to seal his fourth world title — proceeded to attempt to back Rosberg into the chasing pack.

After early pressure from the two Red Bulls of Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, it was Vettel’s Ferrari which threatened to cause Rosberg problems.

And while Rosberg complained Hamilton was too slow, Mercedes instructed Hamilton to up the pace, including a message from technical boss Paddy Lowe, but the Briton replied at one point "let us race".

In the end, Hamilton’s dogged attempt to ruin the title hopes of his team-mate failed and Rosberg held on to second ahead of Vettel. Verstappen, Ricciardo and the second Ferrari of Kii Raikkonen completed the top six.

Force India duo Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez finished seventh and eight respectively, and in doing so secured fourth place in the constructors' championship for the team for the first time.

The top 10 was rounded off by the Williams of Felipe Massa in ninth, in the final grand prix of his career, with the McLaren of Fernando Alonso claiming the final championship points.

There was disappointment for the Spaniard’s team-mate Jenson Button. In his final race before his likely retirement, the Briton hit a kerb at Turn 10 hard, causing damage to the steering and forcing him out.

Formula 1 — Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina Circuit (Result):

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 1hr 38m 04.013s 55 laps

2. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes +0.439s

3. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari +0.843

4. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull-TAG Heuer +1.685s

5. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-TAG Heuer +5.315s

6. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari +18.816s

7. Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes +50.114s

8. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes +58.776s

9. Felipe Massa BRA Williams-Mercedes +59.436s

10. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda +59.896s

11. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas-Ferrari +1m 16.777s

12. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas-Ferrari +1 lap

13. Esteban Ocon FRA MRT-Mercedes +1 lap

14. Pascal Wehrlein GER MRT-Mercedes +1 lap

15. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari +1 lap

16. Felipe Nasr BRA Sauber-Ferrari +1 lap

17. Jolyon Palmer GBR Renault-Renault +1 lap

Retired:

Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Ferrari

Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda

Daniil Kvyat RUS Toro Rosso-Ferrari

Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes

Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault-Renault

Related: Hamilton dominates chaotic Brazil GP

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Jim McGill