Why F1 2016 is heading for its best possible outcome

If Nico Rosberg wins this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, no matter what Lewis Hamilton does, he will be crowned Formula 1 world champion for the first time.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is unlikely to be happy. Last year, he classed Rosberg as "bad for my business" and last month said Rosberg winning the title "wouldn't necessarily help the sport because there is nothing to write about him" and "even in Germany it wouldn't help".

Many will also say he has been lucky, given Hamilton has been struck down by unreliability at crucial moments this year. But every champion needs a bit of luck.

Hamilton himself missed out on the 2007 world championship in heartbreaking circumstances, but you could argue he was the beneficiary in a similar scenario the following year when Felipe Massa lost out, with heartbreak in Hungary and Singapore critically damaging the Brazilian's hopes.

If Rosberg wins the world championship this weekend, or in Abu Dhabi a fortnight later, it will be the best possible outcome for F1.

Hamilton has had the upper hand over Rosberg for the bulk of their time as team-mates, so breaking that deadlock will change the dynamic for next year's title fight.

Rosberg will have cold, hard evidence that over the course of a season, he can beat Hamilton. The monkey will finally be off his back. He can enter next season with a confidence he's never been fortunate enough to have before.

With that, he can really take the fight to Hamilton in 2017. And what a time to have the momentum, with F1 heading into a new era of technical regulations. It will be a new car, a fresh start and Rosberg will be on the front foot in the Mercedes camp.

By contrast, Hamilton will be under pressure. He will have to contend with the reality that Rosberg can beat him in a championship fight. He will know Rosberg can absorb the pressure and that he will have a newfound belief. Hamilton will face the greatest challenge of his career. The result could be an even more intense title battle in the year(s) ahead.

It will also end a run of domination that threatens to stagnate the championship. That is nothing new. In the 21st century alone, Michael Schumacher won five in a row, Fernando Alonso won two and Sebastian Vettel took four successive titles.

Their success was deserved, but that didn't make it good for F1. A third-successive championship for Hamilton is unlikely to boost F1's popularity with a general audience. It could have the opposite effect. But watching Hamilton trying to wrestle the title back next year would more likely have a galvanising effect on the audience.

Rosberg has won nine races this season. His father Keke won just one in 1982 on his way to his one and only title. Rosberg has taken eight pole positions and 14 podiums in 19 grands prix. With statistics like that, regardless of other factors, he deserves to win the title.

It is fair to say that while both Mercedes drivers have had problems, Hamilton's have come at worse times, with his engine problems in China and Russia hurting his chances, the triple engine change in Belgium restricting him to only third after starting last and the failure in Malaysia costing him a guaranteed 25 points.

But Rosberg had a gearbox penalty after a suspension failure led to a crash in final practice in Austria, and he battled back to almost win the race. He lost vital running time in Friday practice in Britain because of a water leak and had to overcome a throttle problem in qualifying in Germany to take pole.

Admittedly, on balance Rosberg has definitely had the better rub of the green, but he has still had to respond and get the most out of weekends when things haven't gone his way.

There have also been times this year where Rosberg has really shone. Singapore is a great example. He utterly dominated that race weekend from beginning to end. Hamilton had no answer. It was the kind of precision and ultimate pace we've never seen from Rosberg before.

Then in Mexico, he stayed calm under pressure in qualifying to salvage second on his final lap. Come the race, he survived contact with Max Verstappen on the first lap and did exactly what he needed to do by finishing second behind Hamilton. It was efficient if not spectacular, but something he has not always been able to do when it really counts.

He has also been able to apply pressure to Hamilton in more subtle ways. He has steadfastly stuck to his decision not to talk about the championship, instead saying he is taking it race by race. He has made few mistakes this season, instead capitalising on Hamilton's struggles with the Mercedes clutch at the start of races that in turn heaps more pressure on the reigning world champion.

It's this kind of determination and resilience that is refreshing for Formula 1. It sets a brilliant example for the younger audience.

Rosberg has been knocked down time and time again, forced off track by Hamilton and at times looked at a loss over how to defeat his team-mate. But he has never given up. He wants that title so badly. He just keeps going and going like a rabbit in a Duracell battery advert.

When Hamilton has faltered, Rosberg has been there to pick up the pieces, and all those pieces have resulted in a healthy championship lead of 19 points with two races to go. That application in sticking to his guns has been sensational. To achieve that feat against someone who is arguably more talented makes it all the more remarkable.

History shows that very good, if not ultimately great, drivers do occasionally get shots at the title. Mark Webber had a golden chance in 2010, but he didn't take it. In the four years that Red Bull provided a championship-winning car, Vettel took the opportunity each time and Webber never finished higher than third overall.

Rosberg has at least finished second both times Mercedes has produced the dominant car. And while he might not be the best driver on the grid, he has upped his game this year, delivered some complete performances and done exactly what he has needed to do. That's put him in a position to win the world championship. He can do little more.

Ecclestone says Rosberg is not good for business. But he's wrong. Yes, he's not Hamilton. He isn't hanging out with A-listers, appearing in video games and on American talk shows, making music with big-name artists.

But he is doing his bit for Formula 1. Rosberg's very active on social media. In fact, that's one thing he has pushed his team to do more with this season. He makes a post-race video, whether he's had a good day or bad, outlining his feelings, often when they are still raw.

He may come across as boring in that he trots out the same lines at media briefings during a race weekend but he's executing that tried-and-tested mental trick of breaking down his ultimate goal into smaller ones and slowly working through them to make it more manageable. He could be more entertaining, but he would rather stay focused because that is what is working for him now.

When he's not in a media briefing, he's actually very good value. After the US race, you'll usually find him up on stage singing karaoke in a well-known local bar and getting involved with the fans. That doesn't always come across because he likes to keep his family and personal life separate to his racing life. There is nothing wrong with that.

And should he win the title, and finally achieve the dream that has for so long looked unlikely, there is a chance he will relax and open up, endearing himself to the paddock and the fans.

Compared to his countryman Vettel, Rosberg may not have the same raw talent or be in the same bracket of success, but he is very similar in terms of his public profile and likeability. Has Vettel been any worse an ambassador than Hamilton? No.

So it stands to reason that Rosberg will be a good ambassador for F1. He will be different, but different is good.

He understands the need to connect with the fans, he's very generous with his time and it will be refreshing to see a different style come out on top.

Another Hamilton win will be more of the same - and that's not what F1, in an era of falling viewing figures, needs right now.

That's why a Rosberg championship win would be the best-possible outcome.