F1: Nico Rosberg clinches world title in tense Abu Dhabi GP finale

Nico Rosberg has been crowned Formula One world champion for the first time in his career at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Needing to finish on the podium to guarantee his first drivers’ title and deny Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg came home second behind the Briton in a tense climax to the race at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.

Hamilton had suggested before the race that his odds of overturning Rosberg’s 12-point lead heading into Abu Dhabi were “pretty impossible” and so it proved, but the three-time world champion tried until the end.

Read: Amanda Davies reflects on 2016 season

Leading the race from start to finish, Hamilton slowed the pace down in the latter stages, against the wishes of his Mercedes team, enabling a chasing pack led by Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to catch up with second-placed Rosberg.

Hamilton needed his great rival to finish fourth or lower for him to retain the title, but Rosberg held firm – fending off an advancing Vettel in the final three laps of the race with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen not far behind in fourth.

Read: 2016 F1 standings

For Rosberg, who has played second fiddle to Hamilton over the past two seasons, a first world title was rich reward for his perseverance.

Watch: Five highlights from CNN’s The Circuit

The German won the opening four races of the season to open up a 43-point lead over Hamilton, only for the Briton to fight back – by the summer break, Hamilton had turned the deficit into a 19-point lead.

When the drivers returned for part two in September, Rosberg was quickest out of the blocks, winning the first three races and then the Japanese Grand Prix to close in on the title, only for Hamilton to mount a valiant late charge by winning the last four races of the season.

Australia, March 20 —

Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg size each other up as the season begins in Melbourne. On race day, Rosberg starts where he left off in 2015, winning in Albert Park. A poor start relegated Hamilton from pole position to sixth but he fought back to finish second.

Bahrain, April 3 —

Another slow start and a first-lap collision with the Williams of Valtteri Bottas hampers Hamilton's charge. Rosberg ticks off another victory in the desert to stretch his lead as his rival finishes third.

China, April 17 —

In Shanghai, Hamilton starts at the back after an engine problem in qualifying. He fights back to seventh but Rosberg wins again to take a chunky 36-point lead in the championship.

Russia, May 1 —

President Vladimir Putin was on the podium to hand out the victory laurels to Rosberg once more. Another engine problem left Hamilton back in second as his teammate moved into a 43-point lead.

Spain, May 15 —

F1 arrived in Western Europe and served up an unforgettable race in Barcelona. In his first race since his shock promotion to Red Bull, Max Verstappen became the sport's youngest race-winner at 18 ...

Spain, May 15 —

But the Dutch teen only wins after the Mercedes rivals took each other out on the opening lap at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Monaco, May 29 —

The wait is over as Hamilton wins his first grand prix of 2016 in his adopted hometown of Monaco. Seventh-placed Rosberg's championship lead is cut to 24 points.

Canada, June 12 —

"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," says Hamilton as he dedicates his victory in Montreal to late boxing great Muhammad Ali. Rosberg slipped to ninth on the opening lap, but got off the ropes to finish fifth.

Azerbaijan, June 19 —

F1 arrives for the new street race around Baku and the historic win goes to a dominant Rosberg. Hamilton is frustrated by an engine mode setting during the European Grand Prix and crosses the line in fifth.

Austria, July 3 —

A thrilling duel between the Mercedes stars ends when the two cars make contact on the last lap. Hamilton survives to take the win while Rosberg limps home in fourth, seeing his lead cut to 11 points.

Britain, July 10 —

Time for a spot of crowd-surfing after a perfect drive for Hamilton at his home track, Silverstone. Rosberg was relegated to third after being told how to solve a gearbox problem over the team radio, breaking rules governing in-race communications -- which were subsequently lifted.

Hungary, July 24 —

Hamilton earns a hug from Hungarian model Barbara Palvin as he takes the lead in the world championship for the first time in 2016 thanks to a win in Budapest. The British driver moved into a six-point lead over Rosberg, who finished second.

Germany, July 31 —

At the final race before F1's summer break, Hamilton rockets past pole-sitter Rosberg off the line and motors to a dominant win and a 19-point advantage in the title race.

Belgium, August 28 —

A month later, Hamilton had to start at the back of the grid after Mercedes chose to make a raft of engine changes in Spa. Hamilton worked his way up to third, but Rosberg romped to the checkered flag for his first win at the legendary circuit.

Italy, September 4 —

Rosberg is on a roll once more as he storms to his first win at Monza and cuts Hamilton's championship lead to just two points. The defending champion had delivered an electrifying lap to start on pole but a poor getaway cost him and he eventually finished second.

Singapore, September 18 —

F1's night race shines the light on Rosberg once more as the German reclaims the championship lead with a crucial victory. Rosberg holds off a thrilling late charge from Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo as an out-of-sorts Hamilton is third.

Malaysia, October 2 —

Hamilton arrived in Kuala Lumpur determined to reignite the title battle, and everything was going smoothly until lap 43 of the race when his engine caught fire. "Oh no, no," moaned Hamilton as he was forced to retire. Rosberg finished third behind Red Bull duo Ricciardo and Verstappen to extend his lead to 23 points.

Japan, October 9 —

Ill-judged social media posts put Hamilton on the back foot. Rosberg narrowly took pole at Suzuka but pulled away for the win as Hamilton could only finish third. Rosberg moved into a seemingly uncatchable 33-point lead in the championship standings.

Japan, October 9 —

Time to pull on the victory t-shirts! Mercedes wraps up its third straight constructors' championship in Suzuka.

United States, October 23 —

Hamilton keeps his title hopes on track in Austin with a win at the Circuit of The Americas. But Rosberg limits the damage with a second-place finish.

Mexico, October 30 —

Hamilton once again takes the spoils, winning his first Mexico Grand Prix. Rosberg follows him home in second and, as F1 heads to Brazil for the penultimate race of the 2016 season, just 19 points separate the Mercedes drivers.

Brazil, November 13 —

The Mercedes rivals share the podium at Interlagos as Hamilton dominates a rain-hit thriller to claim his first Brazilian Grand Prix victory ahead of Rosberg. The result sends the title race down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.

The moment of triumph: Nico Rosberg finishes second behind Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi to secure a first world title -- 34 years after his dad, Keke, won his.

The story of the 2016 F1 season

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There were celebrations for Rosberg on the podium but also palpable relief as he reflected on emulating his father, Keke Rosberg who won his only world title in 1982.

“Those last few laps were not enjoyable,” Rosberg said before paying tribute to his wife, Vivian and one-year-old daughter Alaia for their support.

“I’m very, very proud to have done the same feat as my father – it will be exciting to see him,” he added.

Only one other family in F1 can boast father and son world champions – in 1996, Briton’s Damon Hill followed in the footsteps of his two-time world champion father Graham (1962 and 1968).

‘Phenomenal’

For Rosberg, it was also moment to savor after years of coming off second best to Hamilton – dating back to their childhood days racing go-karts.

“I’ve been racing him forever and always he’s just managed to edge me out of the title even when we were small in go-karts,” Rosberg told reporters.

“He’s just an amazing driver and one of the best in history. It’s unbelievably special to beat him because his level is so high and that makes (winning the world title) so much more satisfying … and I took the world championship away from him. It’s just phenomenal.”

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Hamilton, meanwhile, defended his tactic of not always racing at full speed during Sunday’s decider.

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“I tried to help myself because I wasn’t getting any help anywhere else,” Hamilton told reporters.

“Fortunately, I didn’t put Nico or anyone in harm’s way, didn’t do the team any damage – we still got a one-two – so everyone should be happy and I think I did everything I could within fair reason.”

While the Briton didn’t win the title, he ended up with 10 wins to Rosberg’s nine in 2016, taking his career total to 53 victories – only second to Michael Schumacher’s tally of 91.

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Button and Massa bow out

There was no fairytale ending for Jenson Button, who was competing in his 305th and probably last grand prix.

A right front suspension failure in the opening stages ended the McLaren driver’s race on lap 12, bringing the curtain down on the 2009 world champion’s long and distinguished F1 career.

“I had a failure on the front right. It’s so unusual for us to have a failure. But I don’t really care. It doesn’t change my feeling about ending my career. I’m very content,” Button told UK broadcaster Channel 4 following his exit from the race.

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Brazil’s Felipe Massa, meanwhile, had a slightly better final day at the office, coming home ninth in his 250th and final F1 race.