Nico Rosberg won his first Formula One world championship in the Grand Final of the Season with a gutsy and cautious drive to second behind Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The German, who needed at least a podium finish to secure the title, weathered a tense opening two stints of the race and made a decisive overtake on Max Verstappen at mid-distance to consolidate second position. In the closing stages title rival Hamilton attempted to back his teammate into the chasing Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen, and ignored a series of messages from his Mercedes team, despite several instructions to speed up from the Mercedes pit wall. But it was to no avail as Nico Rosberg held on finish just 0.4 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton and secure the world Championship 2016 after a tense finale of the season at the Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"That was definitely not the most enjoyable race I've ever had," said a relieved new world champion Nico Rosberg. "Those laps were really not very enjoyable. I'm glad it's over, and I am ecstatic."
Nico Rosberg was born 27 June 1985 In Wiesbaden, West Germany, has enjoyed his most successful period, winning 23 Grands Prix and earning 30 pole positions.
In July 2016, Rosberg signed a new contract with Mercedes F1 to stay with the team until the end of 2018.
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg became the 33rd driver to win a Formula One world championship
Nico's father Keke Rosberg also won the drivers' world championship in 1982, the Rosbergs drivers' championships were achieved 34 years apart.
Congratulations! Nico, you proved you deserved it.
Lewis Hamilton is a spectacular F1 driver, Nico Rosberg proved as he deserves the title by holding the pressure during the entire 2016 Formula One season.