Autosport Awards 2016
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Rosberg takes plenty of pleasure in presenting the award to Mercedes for its W07. Aldo Costa leads a team of its engineering excellence onto the stage.
"It was such a dominant season really - even better than last year," he says. "The gap was not as big as two years ago, but we were much more consistent."
"It was such a dominant season really - even better than last year," he says. "The gap was not as big as two years ago, but we were much more consistent."
Photo: LAT
Rosberg has stayed on stage to present the racing car of the year award.
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Some great anecdotes from Rosberg, who's doing a great job of entertaining the crowd. Having paid tribute to sparring partner Hamilton, and engineer Tony Ross, Rosberg speaks about the pressure Hamilton put him under in Abu Dhabi and their relationship.
"We're all fighters out there and the championship was on the line - I understand that. We were best friends at 14 racing for Mercedes-Benz McLaren racing in karting. I think that respect has stayed all those years."
"I want to congratulate all the other winners on the night, I'm really looking forward to seeing who wins the [MABA] young driver award later."
Rosberg also thanks Paddy Lowe and the rest of his Mercedes team, as well as the Autosport readers who voted for him.
"We're all fighters out there and the championship was on the line - I understand that. We were best friends at 14 racing for Mercedes-Benz McLaren racing in karting. I think that respect has stayed all those years."
"I want to congratulate all the other winners on the night, I'm really looking forward to seeing who wins the [MABA] young driver award later."
Rosberg also thanks Paddy Lowe and the rest of his Mercedes team, as well as the Autosport readers who voted for him.
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Fresh from his world title, and subsequent retirement announcement, Rosberg understandably gets a warm round of applause.
"First of all I need to say I came here for the first time 15 years ago," says Rosberg. "This is the most prestigious night of the year. When I walked down the stairs in front of everyone it was amazing - I definitely don't take this for granted.
A nice bit of to-and-fro between Hill and Rosberg, with both of their fathers having also won the world championship.
"I don't read too much," he continues. "It wasn't an easy one and I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it ,but here I am. It feels great to go out on top. It's been an unbelievable 11 years in F1 and it was definitely my best year.
"It was a long process - it was after Suzuka. After Abu Dhabi the thought was still there and I said if I do it I'll stop, I didn't think I'd have the courage to do it to be honest."
"First of all I need to say I came here for the first time 15 years ago," says Rosberg. "This is the most prestigious night of the year. When I walked down the stairs in front of everyone it was amazing - I definitely don't take this for granted.
A nice bit of to-and-fro between Hill and Rosberg, with both of their fathers having also won the world championship.
"I don't read too much," he continues. "It wasn't an easy one and I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it ,but here I am. It feels great to go out on top. It's been an unbelievable 11 years in F1 and it was definitely my best year.
"It was a long process - it was after Suzuka. After Abu Dhabi the thought was still there and I said if I do it I'll stop, I didn't think I'd have the courage to do it to be honest."
In attendance this evening, Nico Rosberg steps up to the stage to receive the award.
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"20 years is nothing, it just seems like nothing," says Hill. "This season has been fantastic and an intensely fought one - a great psychological battle."
International Racing Driver is next up, with Damon Hill - 1996 Formula 1 world champion - on stage to present the award.
Autosport
You should now have live images - so while we wait for the next award of the night, here's news of Hamilton's British Competition Driver award. 
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The second MABA finalist to face a grilling ahead of this evening’s event was Sennan Fielding. Up against the might of Carlin, Fielding and his JHR Developments team ran eventual British F4 champion Max Fewtrell incredibly close this season, ultimately missing out on the title by seven points. 
Photo: LAT
Following the drivers' award, it's now time for Rally Car of the year - and the award goes to the Volkswagen Polo R, which dominated the WRC for a fourth year in a row.
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Ogier's also missing this evening, but had this message for those in the hall: "First of all I would like to say I'm very proud to be rally driver of the year," he says. "I would like to thank all the readers of Autosport, It's a great pleasure.
"I'm very sorry not to be there tonight - it's a tough time at the moment and I prefer to spend my energy on sorting my future. Thanks a lot."
"I'm very sorry not to be there tonight - it's a tough time at the moment and I prefer to spend my energy on sorting my future. Thanks a lot."
Rally driver of the year goes to Sebastien Ogier - who claimed his fourth WRC title in October.
Photo: LAT
Autosport
One man who’s not here this year is the late Peter Foubister. Autosport Editor between 1988-1992, Foubister was a driving force behind the creation of the Awards before taking to the Editor’s chair, and later was instrumental in the creation of what was then the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year award.
Tributes were duly paid to Foubister – who died suddenly a fortnight ago – during the first part of this evening’s presentation, and many of the guests this evening are sporting various items of tartan clothing in his memory. If you missed it, Andy Hallbery’s fitting eulogy is available here:
Tributes were duly paid to Foubister – who died suddenly a fortnight ago – during the first part of this evening’s presentation, and many of the guests this evening are sporting various items of tartan clothing in his memory. If you missed it, Andy Hallbery’s fitting eulogy is available here:
Photo: LAT
Unsurprisingly, there’s no shortage of famous faces in the great hall. From Sir Stirling Moss to fresh faced GP2 champion Pierre Gasly, or retiring stars Mark Webber and Felipe Massa, and past champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell, almost everyone who’s anyone in the world of motorsport is perched on a chair on the main floor.
But the man with his own dedicated entry this evening was Formula 1 world champion (and recently retired grand prix driver) Nico Rosberg. Just a week after claiming the title in that final race in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg – trophy and all – was welcomed into the great hall by a standing ovation before taking his seat.
Turns out that piece of silverware also makes for a rather impressive and decorative table centrepiece, too.
But the man with his own dedicated entry this evening was Formula 1 world champion (and recently retired grand prix driver) Nico Rosberg. Just a week after claiming the title in that final race in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg – trophy and all – was welcomed into the great hall by a standing ovation before taking his seat.
Turns out that piece of silverware also makes for a rather impressive and decorative table centrepiece, too.
Marquez's award is accepted instead by former world champion Freddie Spencer.
The award, perhaps unsurprisingly, is given to world champion Marc Marquez, who like Hamilton is not here this evening.
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Reflecting Autosport's decision to cover MotoGP this year, for the first time the Rider of the year award will be given out next.
And there's a real two-wheel legend to present the award, with John McGuiness on stage to hand over the prize.
And there's a real two-wheel legend to present the award, with John McGuiness on stage to hand over the prize.
There's a brief interlude at the moment, with the charity raffle being drawn.
The award goes to Lewis Hamilton, who finished runner-up to Nico Rosberg in the Formula 1 World Championship this year.
Hamilton is not here tonight, but the award is gladly received by his brother Nicolas.
Hamilton is not here tonight, but the award is gladly received by his brother Nicolas.
Dario Franchitti is up on stage now to present the British Competition Driver award.
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2015 MABA winner Will Palmer was interviewed earlier on in the evening about his experience driving a McLaren F1 car – part of his prize package for picking up the award last year.
Palmer drove Jenson Button’s 2011 Canadian Grand Prix winning McLaren MP4-26 at Silverstone at the end of October, completing 15 laps of the Grand Prix circuit.
“Not too long I hope,” said Palmer, when asked how long it would be before he tested a Formula 1 car again. “Watching the video brought all the feelings back of the experience of testing the car.
“It was a massive step up from anything I’ve tested before – hopefully one day I get to race one.”
Palmer drove Jenson Button’s 2011 Canadian Grand Prix winning McLaren MP4-26 at Silverstone at the end of October, completing 15 laps of the Grand Prix circuit.
“Not too long I hope,” said Palmer, when asked how long it would be before he tested a Formula 1 car again. “Watching the video brought all the feelings back of the experience of testing the car.
“It was a massive step up from anything I’ve tested before – hopefully one day I get to race one.”
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Sausset's story is an incredible one - the quadruple amputee having raced at, and completed, the Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this year.
"It's a fantastic experience and I want to thank Pierre Fillon [ACO President]," says Sausset. "It was a way of coming back form the accident."
"It's a fantastic experience and I want to thank Pierre Fillon [ACO President]," says Sausset. "It was a way of coming back form the accident."
Next up is the Pioneering and Innovation award, which this year is presented to Frederic Sausset.
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"I'm so excited for the future, thank you very much to Pat," says O'Neill. "The other finalists from what I've seen have been incredible. The future of F1 engineering is bright."
The award is presented to Sam O'Neill, who is in his final year of study at Imperial College.
Host for the evening Steve Rider has reappeared on stage, and has introduced Pat Symonds, who is on hand this evening to present the Williams Engineer of the Future award.
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The evening culminates, though, with the presentations of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.
Revamped for 2016, this year four finalists were selected to compete for the award – which was set up more than 25 years ago to recognise and reward talented young racers.
All four finalists are – naturally – in attendance tonight, and in the build up to the event spoke to Autosport about what it meant to be a finalist. We’ll be dropping those thoughts in throughout the evening, starting with Ricky Collard, who was this year’s BRDC British Formula 3 Championship runner-up. It’s Collard’s second nomination, having also been a finalist last year.
Revamped for 2016, this year four finalists were selected to compete for the award – which was set up more than 25 years ago to recognise and reward talented young racers.
All four finalists are – naturally – in attendance tonight, and in the build up to the event spoke to Autosport about what it meant to be a finalist. We’ll be dropping those thoughts in throughout the evening, starting with Ricky Collard, who was this year’s BRDC British Formula 3 Championship runner-up. It’s Collard’s second nomination, having also been a finalist last year.
So, what’s the rest of the schedule?
With the last smeared dessert dishes being taken away, the presentation of the remaining 12 awards will begin shortly, starting with the Williams Engineer of the Future award. Live video will be available from 10pm for you to feast your eyes on, and of course we’ll have live text updates and reaction from all of the winners.
With the last smeared dessert dishes being taken away, the presentation of the remaining 12 awards will begin shortly, starting with the Williams Engineer of the Future award. Live video will be available from 10pm for you to feast your eyes on, and of course we’ll have live text updates and reaction from all of the winners.
Gordon Shedden - Winner - National Driver - Autosport Awards 2016
Autosport
Second up was the National Driver award, which was presented by MSA chairman and British Touring Car Championship series director Alan Gow and awarded to BTCC champion Gordon Shedden. The Scot clinched his third BTCC crown with third in the final race of the season in October, overhauling WSR’s Sam Tordoff, and picked up the award for a second year in a row. 
Lando Norris - Winner British Club Driver - Autosport Awards 2016
There are also handy recaps of all of the awards available on Autosport's Youtube account - here's the first of tonight's awards being presented.
Autosport
First up was the presentation of this year’s British Club Driver award, which this year was presented to rising star Lando Norris by Force India’s Vijay Mallya. The teenager has won three championships this year, and also made his European Formula 3 and Macau Grand Prix debuts. Expect to read a bit more about him later on in the evening, with Norris nominated for the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. 
Dinner has been served, wine has been poured and the first awards of the night have been handed out – but fear not, we have all the information you need at our fingertips.
Photo: LAT
By: Geoff Creighton
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