Nico Rosberg seals maiden F1 world title: Lewis Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in vain
NICO ROSBERG produced a calm performance in a tense Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win his first world title despite Lewis Hamilton winning the race.
Rosberg came into the race at Yas Marina with a 12-point lead in the Drivers' Championship and the knowledge that a podium finish would be enough to keep him on top of the standings.
Lewis Hamilton won pole on Saturday to give him the best possible chance of securing his fourth world championship title.
But Rosberg overcame the pressure of expectation and a late surge from Sebastian Vettel to finish on the podium.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff warned Hamilton before the race that any efforts to back the field up would not be backed by the team and both drivers negotiated the opening lap without any contact.
The Brit clearly had the pace to win but had to hope that the Red Bulls or Ferraris could get past Rosberg to give him a chance of winning the title.
Max Verstappen appeared to have blown his chances of playing a role in the finale by spinning on Lap 1 and ending up at the back of the pack.
But the Dutch teenager tore through the field and got ahead of Rosberg after the German pitted, holding him back despite his struggling tyres.
Eventually though, Rosberg found a way past Verstappen with a brilliant overtaking manoeuvre which in the end was crucial to his triumph.
Hamilton never drove away from Rosberg and in the closing stages, the fears that he would slow down to hold up Rosberg came to fruition.
TIGHT race between Verstappen and Rosberg heats up
Repeatedly the team warned him to speed up and let Rosberg battle the flying Sebastian Vettel on his own but Hamilton told them he was losing the world championship.
But in the end the German was able to hold off the Ferrari and crossed the line in second place, behind the Brit on the day but ahead of Hamilton crucially on points.