Nico Rosberg said it is time to “drop the whole discussion” about Lewis Hamilton’s tactics during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and insisted he respects his Mercedes team-mate.

Rosberg crossed the line in second place at Yas Marina on Sunday to finish five points clear of Hamilton in the drivers’ championship and secure his first Formula One world title.

The Mercedes head of motorsport, Toto Wolff, who appeared alongside Rosberg at a sponsors’ event in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, remains in “two minds” as to whether Hamilton will be punished.

Punishing Lewis Hamilton for Abu Dhabi antics could end up hurting Mercedes Read more

Mercedes, who won all but two of the 21 grands prix this season and sealed the constructors’ championship with three races to spare, strengthened their so-called rules of engagement earlier this season after Hamilton and Rosberg crashed in Spain and then Austria.

Hamilton was determined to try everything in an effort to take the title from his team-mate, who needed a top‑three finish, and backed Rosberg into the clutches of the chasing pack.

Whatever the Mercedes hierarchy make of the incident, Rosberg believes it should be left in the past. “In terms of his tactics in the last race, you can understand the team’s perspective that they weren’t too happy with that.

“But at the same time it’s easy to understand his perspective. It’s about the world championship so you can understand he wanted to try whatever it was possible to do. He did a really good job of it. He did it perfectly because I had no chance to try to overtake.”

Asked if he would have done the same in Hamilton’s position, Rosberg told BBC Radio 5 Live: “That’s too hypothetical, so there’s no point in going into that. We can just drop the whole discussion. There’s no point discussing this topic any more. It’s done and it’s in the past.”

The rivalry between the team-mates defined the season, with Hamilton winning 10 races and Rosberg nine. Their relationship was put to the test but Rosberg remains respectful of Hamilton, having been close to the British driver since they were teenagers.

“Lewis is an amazing driver, he’s one of the best of all-time. It’s always tough to beat him. We have the base respect because we were really good friends back in the day. That’s always remained, that respect, so that helps even though it’s difficult because we’re within the same team fighting each other. It’s a very intense environment and not easy.”

Rosberg partied hard following his title win. “I can also confirm I’m a double world champion because we became party world champion on Sunday night as well. It was big. It was epic.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton was scheduled to complete a full day of tyre testing in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday but was replaced after the morning session. Pascal Wehrlein, the Mercedes junior driver who has raced for Manor, took over. Hamilton also withdrew from a tyre test in October because of a sore foot.

“Lewis felt unwell so Pascal stepped in for the later runs,” a Mercedes spokesperson said.