Our 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg has been somewhat of a party animal if his WDC celebrations were anything to look at. Thus, in his recent YouTube video from the paddock in Abu Dhabi, his wife pointed out something very curious regarding the setting they were in, considering Max Verstappen had just taken the crown.

Vivian very candidly revealed, “Can I just say, when you won, this paddock was a huge party. I don’t know what happened today, nobody seems to be partying.” 

Rosberg quickly adds: “No that’s not fair. In the Red Bull garage, they should be partying. We can hear it.”

The former Mercedes driver then said, “We were world champions in the after-party as well, and that’s difficult to match; it’s really difficult.” He added that if there was a top-five ranking for afterparties, he would take over the board.

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However, amid the jokes and the light banter, Vivian’s statement strikes a rather sad chord. Making a very poignant point, the background was extremely somber for a grid that just finished their season. Additionally, it was somber for a team that just welcomed its new champion.

Did Mercedes rain on Max Verstappen & Red Bull’s parade?

Before Max could cross the finish line, Toto Wolff‘s pleas were heard on the radio: “No, Michael, no, no, Michael, that was so not right.” This disapproval was quickly translated to a protest against the championship title.

Such is not the setting for celebrations, especially when Verstappen’s victory was under threat. Although the Red Bull garage was absolutely triumphant with war cries and songs, it’s no surprise that the glorious cries were soon silenced.

Nonetheless, after the initial drama came to an end, Red Bull partied; and they partied hard. The infamous chants of ‘Super Max’ boomed from the Red Bull yacht. Mercedes partied too, with Wolff crowd surfing and letting himself loose after an intense season.

So, although the after-party was a little delayed, the characteristic drama of 2021 found its way even after the checkered flag dropped for the last time.

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