FORMULA 1: Nico Rosberg wins Brazilian Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg held off Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to win the Brazilian Grand Prix for a second successive year on Sunday, sealing the runner-up spot in the drivers' standings.

Rosberg claimed his first victory since June in Mexico a fortnight ago and was back on top of the podium again to ensure world champion Hamilton's wait for an elusive first triumph at Interlagos continues.

The front two almost touched when Hamilton attempted to pass Rosberg - who started on pole for the fifth race in a row - on the outside going into turn one on the first lap and went on to secure an impressive victory by a margin of 7.75 seconds.

Hamilton pushed Rosberg hard, but could not find a way past at the end of an eventful week in which he arrived in Sao Paulo a day late due to illness and also crashed his car in Monaco - citing tiredness due to heavy partying as the reason.

Hamilton said that he was not aware of a claim from team boss Toto Wolff that the penultimate race of the season would be a "team exercise" to ensure Rosberg finished second.

[HOW THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX UNFOLDED]

[ROSBERG AT A LOSS TO DESCRIBE WINNING BURST]

[HAMILTON WANTS STRATEGY RISK FREEDOM]

[PICTURE THIS: NICO ROSBERG WINS THE BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX]

And the Brit was certainly not holding back, but he was unable to reel in Rosberg, with Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen third and fourth respectively.

WHERE THE RACE WAS WON
Rosberg gave himself a great shot at victory with his qualifying performance on Saturday and held off sustained pressure from Hamilton to claim maximum points.

OFF TO A FLYER
Hamilton went on the attack from the off, getting into Rosberg's slipstream and making a move on the outside at turn one to no avail as the pair came incredibly close to making contact.

RACE TO FORGET
Carlos Sainz started in the pits and things went from bad to worse for the Spaniard when his Toro Rosso stopped at the exit of turn five and he reported a loss of power. Sainz was the only driver to retire from the race.

RACE STAT TO REMEMBER
Hamilton has now tried and failed to win the Brazilian Grand Prix nine times.

IN THE POINTS
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +7.756s
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +14.244s
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +47.543
Valtteri Bottas (Williams) +1 lap
Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +1 lap
Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull) +1 lap
Felipe Massa (Williams) +1 lap
Romain Grosjean (Lotus) +1 lap
Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso) +1 lap

TITLE STANDINGS
Lewis Hamilton 363
Nico Rosberg 297 (+66)
Sebastian Vettel 266 (+97)
Valtteri Bottas 136 (+227)
Kimi Raikkonen 135 (+228)

Mercedes 660
Ferrari 401 (+259)
Williams 257 (+403)
Red Bull 178 (+482)
Force India 120 (+540)

NEXT UP
A day-night race in Abu Dhabi will bring an end to the Formula One season in a fortnight.