Rosberg and Mercedes collect championship trophies

Dec 03, 2016 1:00am UTC

(L to R) Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo, 2016 FIA Prize Giving, Vienna, Austria, December 2nd 2016 © FIA

Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, 2016 FIA Prize Giving, Vienna, Austria, December 2nd 2016 © FIA

Less than a week after securing that crucial podium finish in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg got to lift the world championship trophy on Friday evening, as he and his Mercedes team collected their silverware for 2016 at the FIA’s annual Prize Giving Gala in Vienna.

Rosberg, who earlier in the day announced his retirement from F1 racing, won nine of this year’s 21 Grands Prix en route to his first drivers’ crown, while team mate and title runner-up Lewis Hamilton claimed 10 victories as Mercedes secured their third successive constructors’ title.

“I'm so proud to be here," said Rosberg, whose father Keke also won the world championship in 1982. "It's been a pretty intense period - but my childhood dream. When I saw this trophy for the first time today, I immediately went and found where my dad was. To share that with him is very, very special.”

Daniel Ricciardo was also in attendance at Friday’s star-studded ceremony, held at the famous Imperial Hofburg Palace, and picked up his trophy for finishing third in the 2016 championship. Ricciardo and Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen were the only non-Mercedes drivers to win a Grand Prix this year, each scoring one victory.

Verstappen was the other big individual F1 winner of the night, scooping his third successive Action of the Year prize and his second successive Personality of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Lance Stroll, who will race for Williams next season, collected his trophy for winning the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, having taken 14 wins, including seven from the final nine races.