The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team has three reasons to look back on a successful 2016: Firstly: Nico Rosberg was crowned Formula One world champion with a total of 385 points. Secondly: following a brilliant chase to the finish line Lewis Hamilton secured the runner-up spot with a difference of only five points to make it a one two finish. Thirdly: the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team won the third, successive constructors' title. Congratulations!

"Formula One has not been this gripping for many seasons." Nico Rosberg summed up the events pretty well at the half-way mark of the season. Competition on the race track was fierce, not just from rivals Red Bull and Ferrari – the two drivers in the Silver Arrows also fought ferocious battles. In this process, Nico Rosberg, who had been driving at an exceptionally impressive level all season, followed a simple strategy: "I go from race to race. You never know what's going to happen next."

It is true to say that highs and lows closely followed on from each other this year. In particular Lewis Hamilton was held back by technical defects, yet he managed to fight back: "I have never been somebody who gives up and I'm not starting now. I have worked and trained hard and knew that I would get results at some point." And I got them. Hamilton finished ten of the 21 races in the top spot, including his 50th Grand Prix win in Austin (USA). He also reached number two in the list of all-time Formula One Grand Prix winners thanks to his 51st win at the Mexican Grand Prix. However, he was not to be the world champion this season.

In the fight for the title the two Silver Arrow drivers fought a gripping season final in front of fans. In this process, Nico Rosberg countered his team mate's fiery fighting spirit with focussed serenity: "of course it's nice and exciting to be involved in the fight for the world championship at the end of the year. But I prefer to keep it simple. Plenty of things that are out of your hands can happen during a race weekend. Consequently, it is best to ignore all of this and concentrate on the tasks ahead." This was Nico Rosberg's formula to success crowned by his first Formula One title. Lewis Hamilton came second by only a small margin. A great result for the team of Silver Arrows!

The path to success was anything but a "fun day out" to quote Toto Wolff. The team faced a number of challenges throughout the 2016 season. One issue that had to be eliminated was the lack of reliability. "The longer the rules remain the same, the harder it is to find additional performance. We are taking it to the boundaries to make sure we stay competitive. However, if you take things to the limit, to a certain extent you also risk going beyond it", Toto Wolff explains. The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team is characterised by the fact that each member always gives their best – often around the clock and by making great, personal sacrifices.

The team celebrated the third, consecutive constructors' title together in Brixworth and Brackley. Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical), underlined the extraordinary performance: "We achieved phenomenal results in 2014 we had never thought were possible in this modern Formula One era. In hindsight, we thought we'd never be able to repeat such a performance. For this reason, it is absolutely odd that the team managed to maintain this superior level over three seasons. That is proof of the extraordinary work of each individual team member in Brackley and Brixworth. It's not just about working hard. I guarantee you, we all did that. It's also about being clever in the process. Congratulations to everyone who participated and thank you for your contributions to this success."

"What we have achieved together is overwhelming and I am incredibly proud to have made a minor contribution", Nico Rosberg explained. "Thanks to all the people here who make our job as drivers even more fun – and I mean it!" Lewis Hamilton added: "I am delighted to be a part of this team. I am incredibly proud to drive these cars built buy everyone here. We will continue to do our best on the race track and I am sure that you will do the same here at the plants." The current driver duo will work together until 2018: Nico Rosberg has just extended his contract by two years. Lewis Hamilton had already signed his contract last year.