2016 Season

Nico Rosberg won the Drivers’ Championship, driving for Mercedes, in a season featuring 21 races. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team secured the Constructors’ Championship with 765 points and 19 victories, continuing their dominance in the hybrid power unit era. The season saw four different race winners: Rosberg (9), Lewis Hamilton (10), Max Verstappen (1), and Daniel Ricciardo (1).

Rosberg began the campaign strongly, winning the first four rounds and building a 43-point lead over Hamilton after round four. The points gap fluctuated throughout the season, with Hamilton closing to within a single point by round ten. Hamilton then overtook Rosberg after round eleven, but Rosberg regained and extended his lead following a series of victories and consistent podiums. By round seventeen, Rosberg’s advantage grew to 33 points. Hamilton responded with a late surge, winning the final four races, but Rosberg’s consistent finishes allowed him to maintain a narrow margin. The championship was ultimately decided by just five points, with Rosberg finishing on 385 and Hamilton on 380.

Notable milestones included Verstappen’s maiden win at the Spanish Grand Prix and Ricciardo’s victory in Malaysia. Hamilton achieved 12 pole positions, while Rosberg claimed eight. The season was marked by a close intra-team rivalry, with both Mercedes drivers winning nearly half the races each. Mercedes’ 19 wins further established their dominance in this regulatory period. The 2016 season is notable for its intense title battle and the continuation of Mercedes’ supremacy in Formula 1.