Germany's Nico Rosberg clinched his first Formula One world title by finishing second at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday behind winner Lewis Hamilton.
The Mercedes pair had duelled for the championship all season but after losing out in the past two years, Rosberg finally got the better of his long-time friend and rival.
Hamilton started from pole position and had little trouble winning the day-night race at the 5.554-kilometre Yas Marina circuit. But Rosberg entered the race 12 points ahead of Hamilton in the standings meaning a podium finish would secure the title regardless of Hamilton's performance.
Rosberg ends the season on 385 points to Hamilton's 380 to replicate the title win of his father Keke in 1982.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who recovered from an opening lap spin, did attempt to put pressure on Rosberg, as did Sebastian Vettel in Ferrari late on as Hamilton slowed to condense the race, but they could not put his championship in danger by keeping him out the top three.
"Unreal," Rosberg said on the podium. "I am very, very proud. I have done the same feat as my dad achieved. He will be here in half an hour and I am so excited to see him."
Both Hamilton and Rosberg started cleanly but Verstappen spun after clipping the Force India of Nico Huelkenberg and had to make his way through the field having dropped to last from sixth.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, on ultra softs, got the better of Ricciardo on the super-softs which were used by both Red Bulls with the hope of making up ground through long opening stints.
Hamilton and Rosberg changed to softs on laps 9 and 10 and both were held up by Ferraris pitting at the same time. Hamilton reemerged quickly enough to regain the lead when others pitted but Rosberg found himself sandwiched between Verstappen, who had stormed through the field, and Raikkonen.
Rosberg was cautioned by his team not to take risks but eventually got past Verstappen's fading tyres with a bold pass on lap 20 which he made stick at the second attempt.
By this point there had already been an emotional farewell to McLaren's Jenson Button as his final race in Formula One ended with suspension failure. Kevin Magnussen (Renault), Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz (both Toro Rosso) also failed to finish.
Verstappen and Ricciardo pitted on laps 22 and 25 for softs with the intention to run to the end but though Rosberg was more than four seconds behind leader Hamilton, more importantly he had established a big advantage over the chasing group.
Shortly after Hamilton and Rosberg took their second stops, Hamilton was asked by his team why he was driving slowly - creating a suspicion he was attempting to back Rosberg into the pack in his only chance to win the title.
"I just want to say thanks to the team and my family," Hamilton said afterwards. "And congratulations to Nico - the new world champion."
Vettel pitted for a slow stop on lap 38 but Hamilton refused to pick up the pace ahead of Rosberg and was even instructed by his team to go quicker on lap 47, something he dismissed out of hand, leading to a similar order from chief technical director Paddy Lowe with four laps left.
"Right now, I'm losing the world championship so I don't care if I lose this race," Hamilton later replied.
Vettel recovered to overtake both Red Bulls for the final podium place in a miserable season for Ferrari.
"Once I was in clean air I could unleash the pace in the car today," he said. "It feels great to finish on the podium today. It's been a tough year but it's great to finish on a high."
Hamilton did hang on to his 53rd career win. But he could not add to his three world titles as Rosberg claimed his maiden championship by five points.
"That was not the most enjoyable race I've had," he admitted at the end. "I'm glad it's over and I am absolutely ecstatic.
After Verstappen and Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Huelkenberg, Sergio Perez (Force India) made up the next spots. Felipe Massa earned points in ninth with Williams in his final race while Fernando Alonso of McLaren completed the top 10.
By Martin Moravec
