Mercedes driver, Nico Rosberg finally clinched his first Formula 1 driver’s title after a decade wait in his career. He scored 385 points with 9 wins out of 21 races, defeating his team-mate, Lewis Hamilton by 5 points.
Courtesy: formula1.com
Nico Rosberg has shown decent run since Mexico GP last year. He won the last three races in 2015. The solid performance lead Rosberg to become a strong title contender in the next season. In 2016 season, many people predicted that Rosberg would slip in title hunt again. But his great performance from last three races last year still continue in the four opening Grand Prix. He took a perfect score 100 out of 100 points in 4 races while Hamilton had a bad luck on his opening races. His result cost him a 43 points gap behind Rosberg.
Courtesy: ibtimes.co.in
Round 5 Barcelona GP became a boiling point on Mercedes drivers rivalry. Rosberg, which was the pole man in the race, made mistake on his engine mode after the start. Hamilton noticed that, and he tried to take the inside line at Turn 4. But Rosberg closed the door and made Hamilton ran into the grass, losing control of his car, and then took each other off in the process. The Mercedes collision ended their winning streak since Japanese GP 2015.
Courtesy: t-online.de
After the incident, Hamilton took his first win of the season in Monaco. And luckily for him, Rosberg only managed to finish in seventh place. Hamilton came back with another 6 race wins of 7 races. His only lost from Rosberg was in Baku GP. Before the summer break, the reigning world champion took over the lead in driver standings. He led by 19 points over Rosberg.
One month after summer break, F1 race back on action again in Spa Francorchamps. Hamilton forced to start back on the grid, because the team opting to take grid penalties to build up a stockpile of components. Rosberg won the race, while Hamilton ultimately finished third. He won again in Italy, and reduced Hamilton’s championship lead to 2 points.
Returning to Asia races, Rosberg reclaimed the championship lead in Singapore GP. He won the racewhile Hamilton finishing third. Next round in Malaysia, and once again, Mercedes failed to take 11 winning streak. Hamilton’s engine exploded sixteen laps before the chequered flag, while Rosberg had contact with Vettel in the first corner and forced him to work his way up through the field. Rosberg further extended his championship lead to 33 points by winning the Japanese GP.
Courtesy: dailymail.co.uk
Hamilton gradually cut Rosberg’s championship lead. He lead Mercedes 1-2 finish in United States, Mexico and Brazil. The championship points gap down to 12 points with Rosberg in the lead before the final round at Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg only need to finish in podium on final round. Hamilton secured pole ahead and led the race from the start. In the closing stage, Hamilton slowed the pace in attempt to allow Vettel and Verstappen to catch and pass Rosberg. Hamilton won the race, while Rosberg secured his maiden Driver’s Championship title with finishing right behind his teammate.
Author: Tubagus Farhan