Looking back at the 2016 season

Nico Rosberg finally world champion...

The German had been chasing a world title since his debut in 2006, and especially since the domination of Mercedes on F1 in 2014 and the advent of V6 turbo/hybrid Power Units.

After fighting to the end two years ago against his rival Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg had given in in the United States in 2015. A defeat which nevertheless opened the beginning of a long control of the former pilot Williams on the championship.

Between Mexico in 2015 and Russia this season, the No. 6 Mercedes has scored seven consecutive victories, which allows Keke Rosberg's son to firmly establish himself at the head of the 2016 championship, at a time when Lewis Hamilton is notably slowed down by the mechanical.

The duel between the two teammates will reach one of its climaxes in Spain, where a contact eliminates the two W07 Hybrids on the first lap. From then on, Hamilton will begin his rise to the championship, at the cost, among other things, of a new confrontation on track in Austria, in a final lap marked by contact at the second corner of the Red Bull ring.

The Briton continues his good streak until Germany, while having regained control of the ranking. But from Belgium, Nico Rosberg found the path to success, and notably benefited from Hamilton's retirement in Malaysia due to engine problem to build up a decisive lead. The German will control his teammate until the Abu Dhabi final, finishing 2nd in the last four Grands Prix to obtain his Grail.

…then retired!

Just crowned world champion, Nico Rosberg nevertheless surprises everyone on the sidelines of the FIA ​​Prize Giving in Vienna, Austria announcing his retirement from F1. A thunderclap that the German justifies by admitting to wanting to devote himself to his family.

“On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew it could be my last race. And all this suddenly became very clear just before departure. I wanted to enjoy every second of this experience, knowing that it could be my last... and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life. On Monday evening, I made my decision. » declared Rosberg in a long message posted on social networks.

Mercedes must now find a replacement for its world champion, giving rise to many rumors. If the German team has indicated that it does not want to make a decision before next week, the Finn Valtteri Bottas and the German Pascal Wehrlein appear as the two major options for Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

Max Verstappen confirmed

We knew the Dutchman was full of talent, and always somewhat criticized in his aggressive driving and defenses. 2016 was the year of confirmation on these two points. Aligned at the start of the year by Toro Rosso, the son of Jos Verstappen took the step towards Red Bull Racing faster than expected.

Installed in the seat of Daniil Kvyat, demoted within the structure of Franz Tost from the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen does not miss the incredible opportunity offered by the double retirement Rosberg – Hamilton, for win in his first race with the RB12.

Throughout the season, the former resident of the European Championship F3 will mark several races with his lightning comebacks in the peloton, and certain muscular duels, like with Hamilton in Japan. In Mexico, his maneuver to defend his position by cutting off-path earned him the anger of Sebastian Vettel … but also a penalty from the commissioners.

The German and the Dutchman meet again a few days later in Brazil. Under the deluge of Interlagos, Max Verstappen achieved an exceptional race, once again surpassing the Ferrari SF16-H n°5 in a manly way …but this time deemed correct by the college of commissioners.

Ferrari sees red

Best opponent to Mercedes in 2015, Scuderia Ferrari should logically constitute the main threat to the Silver Arrows this season. But Maurizio Arrivabene's men never lived up to expectations, even seeing Red Bull Racing regain the runners-up position at the end of the year.

Neither Sebastian Vettel nor Kimi Räikkönen scored a victory in 2016, at the end of a season marked by the behind-the-scenes departure of James Allison, technical director of Ferrari, replaced in his role by Mattia Binotto.

Will the speech of patience from the drivers and management of Maranello be enough to satisfy the fans, weaned from world titles since 2008 and a Constructors' coronation? Italian officials remain confident ahead of the possible redistribution of the cards for 2017, with new technical regulations.

Renault begins its revival

All dressed in yellow, as if to recall the legendary RS01 and its turbo V6 in 1977, the RS 16 marked the return of the Diamond brand to F1 as manufacturers in their own right. Announced last year with a three-year plan to return to the top positions, this new adventure began with a year of reconstruction for Renault.

Jolyon Palmer and Kevin Magnussen only scored points on three occasions, but the French brand was able to see some progress, particularly from the point of view of its engine block, which had become reliable and efficient in the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo.

Encouraging signs for 2017, with the new technical regulations and the arrival of Nico Hülkenberg, which could well bring greater satisfaction for Frédéric Vasseur's men.

Force India continues to climb

By finishing 4th in the Manufacturers' standings, Force India achieved its best result in F1. With the Pérez duo – Hulkenberg, Vijay Mallya's team gained the upper hand over its rival Williams, largely thanks to the excellent performances of Sergio Pérez (two podiums in Monaco and Azerbaijan), more prominent than his German teammate.

The step may still be a little high to reach the top 3 regularly, but Force India can count on the arrival of Esteban Ocon to try to continue its progress.

Jenson Button and Ron Dennis leave, Stoffel Vandoorne and Zak Brown arrive: start of a new era at McLaren

The 2016 season is expected to go down as the last of Jenson Button's F1 career. The Briton, who will be replaced by the Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne in 2017 at McLaren-Honda, certainly has a contract to drive in 2018, but his end-of-season declarations suggest that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will remain the last in his very good career.

World champion in 2009 with Brawn GP, ​​the Briton decided to take up the McLaren challenge straight away, by measuring himself against Lewis Hamilton. Vice-champion in 2011, the former Williams driver was never able to return to the top 3 of the rankings.

Cornerstone with Fernando Alonso of the Woking structure for the return of the Honda engine manufacturer, Jenson Button has paid the price for the teething problems of the Japanese engine block, which has however progressed over the last twelve months.

Once set to head to Williams, Button will remain close to the F1 team at McLaren in 2017 and will notably be able to observe the first full season of Belgian prodigy Stoffel Vandoorne, who will replace him next year. The 2 GP2015 champion, called at the last minute to replace Alonso in Bahrain after the Spaniard's accident in Australia, did not miss his debut by taking the point for 10th place.

Behind the scenes too, McLaren has experienced a significant change. After more than thirty years at the head of Woking, Ron Dennis will soon no longer be executive director and chairman of McLaren Technology Group. The end of an era, which saw Woking rise to the top of F1 in the 80s, with major dominance between 1988 and 1991, with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

A few days after the announcement of Ron Dennis' suspension, McLaren made it official the arrival of the American Zak Brown to the position of executive director.

Felipe Massa, the end of a career?

In Italy, in his second homeland, Felipe Massa confirmed on the sidelines of the Grand Prix at Monza that he would retire from F1 at the end of the 2016 season. The former Ferrari driver, who came very close to the world title in 2008, received several tributes, including one at home in Brazil, which will remain among the strong images of the season.

But Williams' Paulist retirement could potentially end in the big upheaval caused by Nico Rosberg's retirement. In the event of Valtteri Bottas' departure from the Grove team to Mercedes, the Brazilian press indicated that Massa could already find the seat.

The first Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan

In his desire to find new destinations, Bernie Ecclestone offered the opportunity to the capital Baku in Azerbaijan to host the European Grand Prix in 2016. Already accustomed to the presence of motorsport in its streets (via Baku World Challenge and the final of the Blancpain Sprint Series), the Azeri city was the big news on the calendar.

Between very narrow portions, and long straight and very wide sections, the route designed by Hermann Tilke made it possible for Nico Rosberg to add his name to the list. The only downside was that the race was held on the same weekend as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A clash of dates which will not happen again in 2017 for the now Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Haas F1 Team jumps into the bath

The presence of Gene Haas' team on the starting grid for the Australian Grand Prix marked the great return of an American team to F1. Supported by Scuderia Ferrari on a technical level, the team which entered Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez had a rather successful debut, with numerous points gleaned by the French driver during the first races (6th in Melbourne, 5th in Bahrain).

The good start subsequently came to a halt, with no points scored between Spain and Azerbaijan, Grosjean returned to the top 10 in Austria, before a new period of drought during the summer.

We will finally have to wait for Austin and the United States Grand Prix to see the former Lotus driver, the only points provider for Haas F1 Team in 2016, in the top 10. A welcome home reward, before two more than complicated events at the Mexico and Brazil.

Haas F1 Team has chosen to recruit Dane Kevin Magnussen for 2017, to support Romain Grosjean and thus try to stabilize his position in the ranking as best as possible.

Esteban Ocon joins Romain Grosjean

Confirmed as third driver during the presentation of the Renault Sport F1 Team, Esteban Ocon, in addition to his duties as Junior Mercedes driver, put a little more foot in F1.

Four appearances in free practice with the RS 16, in addition to private tests with Mercedes, have allowed the Frenchman to accumulate experience alongside his program in DTM. Then the story suddenly accelerated during the summer with the first rumors of a possible replacement for Rio Haryanto, then a starter at Manor.

Thanks to the link with Mercedes, which powers Dave Ryan's team, Esteban Ocon is started for the last nine races starting at the Belgian Grand Prix. Enough to find two French drivers on the starting grid of a Grand Prix.

Le Normand will continue its progress in 2017, but within Force India this time, who placed his trust in the 3 GP2015 Series champion.

The takeover of F1

This time, it's confirmed, F1 will change hands. CVC will soon (during the first part of 2017) hand over the reins of the premier motorsport discipline to the American group Liberty Media.

Very quickly, the future managers announced their vision of what the F1 of the future could be, between development of interactions with the public and new potential destinations...

The French Grand Prix is ​​for 2018

Since 2008, French motorsport fans have been waiting for this. Christian Estrosi officially confirmed this at the beginning of December: the French Grand Prix will return in 2018, ten years after the last edition contested at Magny-Cours in Nièvre (victory for Felipe Massa on Ferrari).

But it is not the Nivernais track which will welcome the single-seaters in a little less than two years from now on, but rather the Var complex of Paul-Ricard, the former hexagonal temple of F1 in the 80s and until 1990.

The 5,8 km circuit, used between 1971 and 1985, will be the scene of the race.