Nico Rosberg’s maiden Formula One Championship is a TRIBUTE to his determination and never-say-die attitude.
In 2008, Lewis Hamilton(McLaren) went into the final race at Interlagos (Brazil) with a seven-point lead over Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and the World title within sight. He only needed to finish fifth, if Massa were to win the Brazilian Grand Prix, to claim what would be his maiden Drivers’ Championship. Massa won the race and for a moment seemed to have secured his first World Championship, before Hamilton rained on his parade with a decisive manoeuvre on the penultimate corner to pass Timo Glock, labouring on dry tyres on a wet track, to finish fifth and claim the crown.
EIGHT SEASONS LATER, it was a reversal of circumstances for Hamilton as his team-mate Nico Rosberg went into the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a 12-point advantage. This meant that Hamilton’s best chance of winning his third successive title — and fourth overall — was in finishing first and Rosberg placing lower than third. The Briton, true to form, took the chequered flag at the Yas Marina Circuit, but before that he defied instructions from the pitwall to speed up (Hamilton’s pace in the final lap was nearly nine seconds off his fastest qualification time) and tried to back Rosberg into his pursuers, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Rosberg, however, valiantly held on to finish second and win his maiden Drivers’ Championship in 206 starts.
This story is from the December 10, 2016 edition of Sportstar.
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This story is from the December 10, 2016 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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