Here, we look at seven key moments in the battle with Lewis Hamilton for this year's title.

1. Rosberg takes control in China

Hamilton arrived on the back foot in China following successive victories for Rosberg in Australia and Bahrain. The Briton then faced a five-place penalty following a gearbox change before an engine failure in qualifying consigned him to the back of the grid.

Hamilton lost his front wing in a first-corner incident and recovered to finish only seventh. Rosberg started from pole position and landed a third consecutive win to take a commanding lead in the title race.

Points: Rosberg 75, Hamilton 39

2. Both bow out early in Spain

Another victory for Rosberg in Russia saw him head to Spain with a 43-point lead over Hamilton. Rosberg, who was bidding to become only the second driver in the modern era to claim eight straight wins, passed pole-sitter Hamilton on the run down to turn one, but an engine setting, incorrectly deployed by the German, enabled Hamilton to decrease the gap to his team-mate at a greater speed.

In defending his lead, Rosberg moved to block his team-mate, Hamilton took to the grass, spun, and then sensationally collided with Rosberg. Both Mercedes cars were out of the race after just four corners.

Points: Rosberg 100, Hamilton 57

3. Hamilton ends losing streak in Monaco

Surprisingly the fall-out from the Barcelona crash was rather amicable, with both Hamilton, Rosberg and their Mercedes team prepared to file the crash under 'R' for racing incident. Monaco played host to the next round and Hamilton finally ended his eight-race losing streak after he pulled off a tactical masterstroke in the rain, as well as benefiting from a disastrous pit-stop gaffe by Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull team. Rosberg, who was ordered by Mercedes to move out of Hamilton's way in the opening phase of the race, crossed the line only seventh.

Points: Rosberg 106, Hamilton 82

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg embark on the drivers' parade. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Jenson Button and Felipe Massa prepare to wave goodbye to F1 ahead of their final races. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton led into the first corner as Rosberg held on to second. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Max Verstappen recovers after spinning at the first corner and dropping to last. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton was immediately off the pace as he tried to back the field up to attack Rosberg. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix A smart strategy from Red Bull got both of their cars in front of the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton looked comfortable in the lead throughout the race. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ricciardo was running up in third before he saw teammate Max Verstappen move ahead of him. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton continues to lead the way. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Button's final race ends in sadness as the front-right suspension failed on his McLaren to force him to retire. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton crosses the line to win the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Rosberg secures the first title of his career. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Rosberg crowdsurfs on his Mercedes mechanics in celebration. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Rosberg celebrates his title success as Hamilton applauds his Mercedes teammate. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Hamilton lost his grip on the F1 world championship. Getty Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in pictures Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Rosberg and Hamilton shake hands on the podium. Getty

4. Hamilton in command at summer break

Hamilton and Rosberg then traded victories in Canada and Azerbaijan before heading to Austria for round nine. Rosberg appeared on course to extend his lead in the title race, but dramatically crashed into Hamilton as the Briton attempted to pass him around the outside of turn two for the lead on the final lap. Hamilton emerged unscathed to win, but Rosberg, who was dealt a 10-second retrospective penalty for his part in the crash, limped home only in fourth. Hamilton then went on a stellar run, winning at Silverstone, Hungary and Germany to take a 19-point lead into the sport's summer break.

Points: Hamilton 217, Rosberg 198

5. Engine woes for Hamilton in Malaysia

Wins for Rosberg followed in Belgium and Italy which moved the German back into the championship lead. A crushing display over Hamilton in Singapore saw the title protagonists head to Malaysia with Rosberg leading by eight points.

Hamilton appeared on course to take back control of the championship as he led in Malaysia, only for his engine to blow up with just 15 laps left. Third place for Rosberg stretched his lead.

Points: Rosberg 288, Hamilton 265

Hamilton walks away dejectedly after his Mercedes blew its engine in Malaysia (Getty)

6. Rosberg 33 points clear

Hamilton struggled, both on and off the track, in Japan. He fooled around on his phone during a televised press conference, before refusing to take questions from the written media, and then slumped to eighth on the opening lap after a terrible start. While he recovered to finish third, Rosberg led from start to finish to claim his ninth victory of the season to move 33 points clear.

Points: Rosberg 313, Hamilton 280

Hamilton occupied himself during the Japan press conference with his mobile phone (Getty)

7. Four in a row not enough for Hamilton

Hamilton looked like a beaten man following his drubbing in Japan, but the Briton returned to his scintillating best at the ensuing double-header in the United States and Mexico to deliver two imperious victories over Rosberg.

Hamilton then turned in a wet-weather masterclass in Brazil to seal a third consecutive triumph. But despite Hamilton winning for a fourth successive time in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg took the title after crossing the line in second place.

Points: Rosberg 385 Hamilton 380