2016 Formula One Season

The 2016 Formula One Season was the 67th season of the Formula One World Championship.

Race tracks
The Spanish Grand Prix returned to the calendar after a year out, whilst the Russian Grand Prix was removed from the calendar.

Engine suppliers
Manor switched from 2014 Ferrari engines to Mercedes engines for 2016.

As a result of Renault taking over, the Enstone based team switched from Mercedes back to Renault engines.

As a result of a fall out between Red Bull and Renault and being unable to find a different supplier, Red Bull rebranded their Renault engines to TAG Heuer as a result of securing them as a sponsor and Infiniti pulling out of sponsorship whereas Toro Rosso adopted 2015 Ferrari engines.

Drivers
Defending Champion, Aarava left McLaren to join Mercedes in 2016 replacing Nico Rosberg.

Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes to rejoin McLaren in 2016 for the first time since 2012 replacing Jenson Button.

Pascal Wehrlein made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 with Mercedes replacing Lewis Hamilton.

2015 GP2 champion, Stoffel Vandoorne made his debut in Formula 1 with McLaren replacing Aarava and to partner alonside Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg left Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2016 replacing Kimi Räikkonen and partnering alongside fellow German, Sebastian Vettel.

Kimi Räikkönen retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2015.

Max Verstappen left Toro Rosso to join sister team Red Bull replacing Daniil Kvyat who left Formula 1 all together and partnering alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

Jenson Button left McLaren to rejoin Williams in 2016 for the first time since 2000 replacing Felipe Massa and partnering alongside Valtteri Bottas.

Felipe Massa retired from Formula 1 at the end of 2015.

Pierre Gasly made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 with Toro Rosso replacing Max Verstappen and partnering alongside Carlos Sainz, Jr.

Kevin Magnussen returned to Formula 1 in 2016 after a season out being a McLaren test driver and joined the rebranded Renault team replacing Pastor Maldonado who left the sport all together.

2014 GP2 Runner-up, Jolyon Palmer made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 with the rebranded Renault team replacing Romain Grosjean and partnering alongside Kevin Magnussen.

Romain Grosjean left Renault to joining Manor Racing in 2016 replacing Will Stevens who moved to WEC in 2016.

Nobuharu Matsushita made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 with Manor Racing after McLaren made a deal with Manor to loan him there. He replaced Roberto Merhi who returned to feeder series racing.

Teams
Renault returned to Formula One in 2016 for the first time since 2011 re-buying the Lotus F1 Team and rebranding to the Renault Sport F1 Team.

Manor-Marussia rebranded to Manor Racing as a result of Marussia closing down.