11 seasons. 206 Grands Prix. 57 podiums. 23 wins. 1 World Championship. It’s been a long time coming for Nico Rosberg.

After two consecutive title defeats, it was third time lucky as he crossed the line in second place in Abu Dhabi to secure the title by 5 points from Lewis Hamilton, who tried his utmost to reverse the result. All Nico had to do was finish second, and finish second he did. There was no need for unnecessary risk in attacking and fighting Lewis, but that risk became an ever-growing possibility thanks to Lewis’ cunning last-ditch attempt to secure a fourth World Title.

Whatever your opinions may be on Nico, you’ve got to feel something for him haven’t you? I know I did. I’ve been critical of him in the past; physically being in Spa in 2014 when him and Lewis infamously tangled for the first time left something of a sour taste in my mouth, and many others judging by the amount of boos he received every time he trundled past us.

Yesterday, I actually felt happy, happy for him and happy for the sport. A young man, who’s spent very nearly all of his life chasing one goal, finally achieved that goal and the look of sheer jubilation on his face was something that I actually found to be quite warming. Nico’s ‘race by race’ mentality towards the season worked without fault, and was a result of learning from the previous two years of title defeats. He worked tirelessly hard to get his head in the game over the winter, and started off in the best possible way. He kept himself to himself, rarely got carried away (the odd moment, Austria, for example) and drove his heart out.

His detractors will say that he only won the Championship through Lewis’ misfortunes (Malaysia most notably) but that’s not strictly true. Nico was consistent all throughout the year, and a World Championship is won not just on speed and wins, but also that consistency. Think back to Baku’s inaugural European Grand Prix, and whilst Lewis frayed and panicked over the various engine issues that flashed up on his steering wheel, Nico remained cool and collected and resolved those very same issues without anywhere near the level fuss and drama that Lewis created.

Similarly, Nico handled the pressure of the most important race of his entire career with absolute control, managing both the pressure of his vital overtake on Max Verstappen and the, to put it in his own words, “intense” pressure Lewis put him under, deliberately slowing his own pace to back Nico in to the lightning-quick Prancing Horse of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, on brand new super-soft Pirelli tyres, and Verstappen, who was on ageing soft compound tyres. If that unfazed, unnerved and undeterred approach to his racing didn’t demonstrate the mind set of a champion, then I don’t know what would.

To be only the second father/son duo to become World Champions is another notch to add to the Rosberg’s belts. Watching Nico and his dad, 1982 World Champion, Keke Rosberg in the paddock after the race was a heartwarming moment, and one that I’m sure neither Nico nor Keke will ever forget. All the hard work that they’d both put in over the past twenty years had finally come good.

For Nico, 2016 was perhaps his last chance at winning the title, as 2017’s dramatic rule changes leave nothing to chance, and could see Mercedes knocked off their perch as the dominant force in Formula One. I’m sure this thought popped in to his head as the season progressed, or if it hasn’t, it will over the winter. He may never get a chance quite like the ones he’s had to battle for the World Championship, which I’m sure makes his ultimate triumph just that little bit sweeter.

Feature image courtesy of Autosport.com