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Rosberg's title win filled with drama

The high and lows of a dramatic Formula One season that delivered German Nico Rosberg a maiden world title.

THE YEAR THAT WAS IN THE FORMULA ONE CIRCUS:

DRIVER OF THE YEAR

While Nico Rosberg ended his long-running quest to be world champion by delivering his best season, Lewis Hamilton still lit it up in 2016, with more pole positions and one more victory than the German to pip Rosberg as this year's best driver.

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Red Bull were braced for a difficult year but ended it a comfortable second, but it is impossible to look beyond Formula One's all-conquering Mercedes team champions for a third consecutive year. They failed to win only two of the 21 grands prix and started from pole in all bar one event.

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RACE OF THE YEAR

The Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the championship, had it all. Relentless rain, crashes, safety cars, red flags and two truly impressive displays. Hamilton claimed victory, but it was Max Verstappen's fearless drive to the podium - when the teen passed half the field in 15 sensational laps to finish - which will be spoken of for decades to come.

MOMENT OF THE YEAR

The agony of Hamilton yelling "no, no, no" after his engine blew up in Malaysia was a contender. So, too, the last-lap tangle between Hamilton and Rosberg at the Austrian Grand Prix. But in terms of pure drama, none of the above could rival the jaw-dropping crash between the Mercedes pair in Barcelona.

SURPRISE OF THE YEAR

Hamilton and Rosberg's Barcelona crash paved the way for Verstappen to win on his Red Bull debut. Just 18 at the time, Verstappen held his nerve, despite the presence of Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion, to claim a shock victory. He now holds the record of the youngest winner in F1 history.

QUOTE OF THE YEAR

"Something or someone doesn't want me to win this year." Hamilton hints at a conspiracy within his Mercedes team after an engine failure cost him a certain victory in Malaysia.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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