Rosberg’s title rival Lewis Hamilton arrived for the season finale knowing that a victory alone would not be enough to stop his Mercedes team-mate from winning his first title, and so it proved.
Hamilton crossed the line ahead of Rosberg to claim his fourth consecutive victory.
But it is Rosberg, after a hairy exchange with Max Verstappen, a slow first pit stop, and Hamilton backing him into the clutches of the rest of the pack, who has emulated his father Keke – the 1982 title winner – to become the sport’s 33rd champion.