FEATURE
N
ico Rosberg did all he needed
to do to become the the 2016
Formula 1 World Champion by
finishing second in the Abu Dhabi Grand
Prix, behind his title rival and Mercedes
teammate Lewis Hamilton in a tense
season finale at Yas Marina Circuit.
It was mo walk in the park for Rosberg
as he was made to toil hard for the
coveted accolade, and endured a thrilling
final half dozen laps as Hamilton backed
him into the clutches of Sebastian Vettel
and Max Verstappen who were in pursuit.
From the start Rosberg managed to
get a good start and was tucked under
Hamilton’s wing as the pair took control of
the race in the early stages. The stalemate
carried on until just before mid-race, after
the leaders had pitted Hamilton emerged
ahead of Verstappen who had recovered
from a first turn spin, but Roberg was stuck
behind the Red Bull driver.
He chased Verstappen doggedly,
and was told to get past him. When he
attacked, the Dutch teenager was not
easy game and made the Mercedes driver
work hard for the position. The pair went
wheel to wheel in breath taking fashion,
but Rosberg got by and powered into the
distance.
With about a dozen laps to go it
was a stalemate between Hamilton and
Rosberg, upon which the reigning world
champion played his final card which
was to back the world champion elect
into the hard pursuing pair of Vettel and
Verstappen.