German driver Nico Rosberg held his nerve to win the Formula One championship for the first time after finishing second at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Defending champion lewis Hamilton won the race from pole position for his 53rd GP win.
Rosberg was 12 points ahead of his teammate coming into the title showdown and only needed to finish third, even if Hamilton won.
Hamilton blatantly disobeyed team orders to speed up near the end, thus backing Rosberg toward Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in third and fourth places, respectively.
Vettel could not quite pass Rosberg and he finished third ahead of Verstappen. Having finished runner-up for the past two seasons, the 31-year-old Rosberg finally emulates his father Keke Rosberg, who won the F1 title in 1982. "That was definitely not the most enjoyable race I've had. Can't believe it's over. I'm ecstatic," Rosberg said.
Hamilton, meanwhile, misses out on a third straight title and fourth overall, despite ending the year with 10 wins — one more than Rosberg.
Hamilton slowed in the later stages of the race to increase the chances of Rosberg being overtaken by other drivers. If Rosberg had been passed by Vettel and Verstappen and had finsihed fourth, then Hamilton would have held onto his title.
When his team told him over race radio to up the tempo, Hamilton replied bluntly: "I suggest you guys let us race." Even a direct order from Mercedes' executive director Paddy lowe four laps from the end did not work. Rosberg was clearly getting nervous, and Vettel was a wheel's length away from him on the final lap.
But he kept his cool and his elation was evident as he let out a delighted screech of "Yes! World champion" when he crossed the line.
Button's finale ends early
Jenson Button's Formula One farewell ended in sad style when he retired early in the Abu Dhabi GP.
Button has an option to drive for the Mclaren team in 2018, but he said before this race that he does not expect to come back.
He was on lap 13 when some sparks flew off his car and he went straight on and cut over some grass before getting back on track. The British driver appeared to be struggling with a suspension or a steering issue.