Story highlights
Nico Rosberg wins Abu Dhabi GP
Third straight win for German
Lewis Hamilton already champion
Kimi Raikkonen third for Ferrari
Nico Rosberg finished the 2015 season on a high note by claiming his third straight F1 victory as he relegated his frustrated Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to second place in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday.
Hamilton wrapped up the title at the United States Grand Prix in Texas last month but has had to play an increasingly irritated second fiddle to German rival Rosberg over the remaining three rounds. Kimi Raikkonen took a fine third for Ferrari ahead of his teammate Sebastian Vettel.
Rosberg held the lead from the start after his sixth straight pole qualification and only briefly came under pressure from Hamilton towards the end of the 55-lap night race at the Yas Marina circuit.
But with the outcome effectively decided after the second round of pit stops, both men were told to turn down the power on their engine by their race engineers.
Read: Final points standings for 2015 season
Hamilton initially ignored the order until being pointedly told “that’s an instruction” over his race radio.
The three-time champion was also rebuffed when suggesting he might skip the second pit stop and attempt to carry on to the finish in the lead but on wearing tires.
For Rosberg the hat-trick of wins has been some consolation for a year that promised much but saw him overshadowed when it mattered most by Hamilton.
Leading in the U.S. GP, it was his mistake which allowed Hamilton to wrap up his second straight title and he has been determined to make amends.
‘Austin was the low point of the season and since then I’ve come back a lot stronger. Next season can start tomorrow for me – I don’t need any holidays,” he said at the presentations.
Read: Rosberg claims sixth straight pole
It was his 14th career win and sixth of the season.
Hamilton was content to reflect on another all-conquering season for Mercedes, having amassed 703 points with the Briton winning the drivers’ title by 69 points from Rosberg.
“I’m happy the season is over so we can all enjoy it. We’ve shown Mercedes is the best team in the world,” he said.
Rosberg believes that Ferrari will prove the closest challengers when the action resumes next March.
“We’re aware of the threat next season from the red guys so will work hard in the winter to stay on top.”
The season-ending race was otherwise notable for a first lap crash tangle which eliminated Lotus driver Pastor Maldonando and saw Fernando Alonso forced to get a new front wing on his McLaren-Honda.
Later, Alonso’s teammate Jenson Button had an embarrassing collision in the pit lane with Valtteri Bottas of Williams.
It drew down the curtain on a disastrous season for an under performing McLaren team boasting two former world champions.
Mexican Sergio Perez for Force India was fifth ahead of the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo, with Nico Hulkenberg, Felipe Massa, Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat completing the top ten in the points scoring positions.