Nico Rosberg won his first ever Formula 1 world title despite Lewis Hamilton disobeying Mercedes orders not to back his team-mate into rivals.
Hamilton won the Abu Dhabi GP driving slowly in an attempt to bring other drivers into the battle, knowing he needed Rosberg to finish below third.
Hamilton was repeatedly told to speed up but told the team: "Let us race."
Rosberg came under pressure from Sebastian Vettel but held off the Ferrari driver to finish second.
For much of the 55 laps the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix reeked of anticlimax. The entire season, given the extent of Mercedes’ dominance, had been a little like that and the rather soulless Yas Marina Circuit has rarely ignited the imagination.
But ultimately there was one of the best finishes of the season, with Lewis Hamilton’s decision to back up the cars behind him, in a far-fetched bid to win the title for a fourth time, producing a slow-mo last few laps of some drama. After Brazil the round before the season has ended on something of a high.
Some thought Hamilton might charge to victory from pole, allowing Nico Rosberg the title but proving a point about his own superiority. Some even doubted his ability to produce a piece of gamesmanship, albeit fully permissible within the rules of the sport, but not a bit of it.
Hamilton happily embraced the tactic of backing second-placed Rosberg – who had only to finish inside the front three – into the jaws of the Ferrari and the Red Bull pursuing him. Mercedes, fearful of losing the race, vainly told him to quicken up. They first asked the driver why he was going so slowly, then said: “Lewis this is an instruction, we need 45.1 for the win.” But Hamilton replied: “I suggest you just let us race.”
With Max Verstappen behind Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel closing fast on fresher rubber, it was a scary moment for Mercedes and Rosberg. The team’s technical director, Paddy Lowe, then came on the radio and said: “Lewis, this is Paddy, we need you to pick up the pace to win this race.” But again the plea fell on deaf ears. Vettel went past Verstappen to take third and then closed on Rosberg with Hamilton making no attempt to stretch out the pack. “Right now I’m losing the world championship, whether I win or lose this race,” Hamilton said.
It was most enjoyable for everyone save Rosberg.
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