Rosberg, Hamilton, Button and more - all the reaction from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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Updated 27/11/2016 at 20:15 GMT
Catch up with all the reaction from the F1 season finale as Nico Rosberg is crowned world champion for the first time in his career.
Tony Ross, Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) - GP of Abu Dabi 2016
Image credit: AFP
It was a tough race for Rosberg, as he emulated his father Keke by becoming world champion, with Lewis Hamilton pulling out all the stops in order to try and force an error from Rosberg.
However the German was undeterred and held out to finish second and ensure he ended the season as champion.
Speaking after the race, when asked 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 him by stopping late] and then with those guys coming up in the end, definitely not very enjoyable in those last few laps.
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Nico Rosberg, Tony Ross, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - GP of Abu Dabi 2016
Image credit: AFP
"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."
As for Hamilton he said: "I did everything I could in these last four races, it's all I could have asked of myself.
"I'll have fun tonight celebrating with the team. You can't win them all.
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Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit
Image credit: AFP
"I had a lot of problems, which is why I'm in this position, but I'm grateful for the success and ups and downs we had as a team."
Rosberg's father Keke said that he felt he may take a smaller role in his son's career now "I think the time has come to take a step back, there was no choice to come here. If I would have been here three days doing nothing, there would not have been a peaceful minute for me. We discussed it with Nico and I said ‘Look I can’t come It does not work’. He did not know exactly where I was but he knew I was in Dubai.”
Much was made about Hamilton's tactics during the race, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff refused to confirm whether the Brit will be punished or not for disobeying team orders.
"I'm in two minds: one half of me says undermining a structure in public means you're putting yourself before the team - that's very simple," said Wolff.
"Anarchy doesn't work in any team or any company.
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Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's Team Chief Toto Wolff looks on ahead of the qualifying session as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix
Image credit: AFP
"The other half says it was his only chance of winning the championship at that stage and maybe you cannot demand a racing driver to comply in a situation where his instincts did not make him comply.
"It's about finding a solution to solve the problem in the future because a precedent has been set.
"Let me sleep over that and come up with a solution tomorrow."
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said he would not have intervened. "With where they were at, it was just down to those guys, so it was only ever going to be that kind of battle between the two of them,"
"Congratulations to Nico, he's driven a great season, he's a very worthy world champion but it was naive to think that there would be any different approach with what's at stake.
"He [Hamilton] played completely within the rules, winning the race wasn't going to be enough for him today, he needed cars between him [and Rosberg] and if he'd charged off into the distance that wouldn't have created that possibility.
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Red Bull's Max Verstappen of the Netherlands talks with team principal Chris Horner (L) during the first free practice
Image credit: Reuters
"He won the race as slowly as he could, it's only like in a football game where a team might protect from the opposition by kicking the ball around and not enabling them to get hold of the ball. "
There's only two drivers competing for the world championship, it was totally obvious that we was going to do that. He didn't do anything dirty, he didn't do anything against the rules and it would be unfair to criticise Lewis for the way that he drove."
Rosberg refused to make a big deal out of the situation "I wasn't expecting it, no," he said. "Maybe that was a bit naive but I didn't expect it.
"But it's not something we need to discuss a lot. It's easy to understand the team's side, because we do a certain thing all year and it doesn't change just in the last race.
"But at the same time, you can understand Lewis because it's the world championship. We are out there fighting, we're drivers and you can understand he wants to try something. We can just leave it at that."
It was also the final race for Jenson Button, who is set to retire now, and he admitted it was rather emotional for him.
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Button announces retirement
Image credit: Eurosport
"Really emotional. I walked downstairs and a lot of people were lined up from the hospitality to the garage. I was very happy I had my sunglasses on.
"It's not what you want before the race but it was awesome all the same and I'm glad we had that moment. It's very difficult not to get emotional, I have had so many lovely messages.
"I've got to say a massive thank you to everybody who supported me, especially through the ups and downs. I take only good memories and experiences away from F1."
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