2016 review – Mercedes: the undisputed champion, but torn apart

The important figures:

Position in the constructors’ standings: 1st, world champion!

Number of points scored: 765

Best result: 1st x19

Hamilton x10: Monaco, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Abu Dhabi

Rosberg x9: Australia, Bahrain, China, Russia, Europe, Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Japan

Best qualifying: 1st x20

Hamilton x12: Australia, Bahrain, Spain, Canada, Austria, Great Britain, Italy, Malaysia, United States, Mexico, Brazil, Abu Dhabi

Rosberg x8: China, Russia, Europe, Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Singapore, Japan

Hands on the first hybrid generation

Mercedes is still very comfortable in this era of turbocharged V6s. The year did not break the pattern. What a collective performance from the Brackley team! The Silver Arrows have left only crumbs for the competition. And yet: it took a collision between both cars in Spain and an engine failure in Malaysia to avoid a flawless season! In itself, the W07 was truly only challenged in Monaco, by Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull. Even if it was indeed Lewis Hamilton who triumphed in the streets of the Principality, helped by a botched pit stop by the Australian driver’s mechanics. Nico Rosberg also brought victory to Mercedes in Singapore, a venue that was quite hostile in 2015!

The team led by Toto Wolff has learned well from its (rare) mistakes, by improving all possible areas, including the technical aspect. Inspired by its predecessors, the W07 notably adopted the front wing base of the W06, adding an “S-duct” to it. However, the airbox at the top of the car, or the side pods have been significantly modified, without hindering the fantastic progress in terms of results.

Throughout all of this, observers were amazed by the technical team’s responsiveness. As evidence, let’s cite the remarkable preparation for the new Grand Prix of Europe in Baku with a specially brought rear wing for the occasion, tested as early as the previous weekend in Montreal. Until the end of the season, Mercedes played the game by making tweaks to the cars of Rosberg and Hamilton. All of this was powered by the most efficient engine on the grid, boasting approximately 775 horsepower; and a famous “magic button” used several times this season in Qualifications, which would temporarily push the engine close to 1000 horsepower!

On an accounting level, the Mercedes team finished this season with an impressive total of 765 points, which is in line with the average of the last two editions, considering that the calendar included 21 races, compared to only 19 in the previous two years. The average points scored by the German team this season actually rose to 36.4 points per race, compared to 37 in 2015 and 36.9 in 2014.

If one wanted to be picky, it should be noted that the number of double victories on Sundays is down, with only 8 compared to 12 in 2015. On the other hand, domination in qualifying has extended even further, with 35 front-row starts this season from both drivers, a record for the past three years. On the track, the silver single-seaters were unbeatable, both literally and figuratively. The two drivers were overtaken on the track only… seven times! (4 overtakes against Rosberg and 3 against Hamilton)

Of all these races, however, it is difficult to single out one as being more impressive than the others. Nonetheless, let’s highlight the Grand Prix of Hungary where Ricciardo, in third place, finished 27 seconds behind the winner: Lewis Hamilton!

With this third consecutive title, Mercedes further cements its place in Formula 1 legend by joining three prestigious names. Only McLaren (1988-1991), Ferrari (1975-1977 and 2000-2004), and Red Bull (2010-2013) have managed to dominate their era so significantly in such a short span. Mercedes’ season came close to 1988, a great year for the McLaren team, which won 15 out of 16 races, an exceptional ratio of 93.75%!

Toto speaks about #TheTriple with @nico_rosberg & @LewisHamilton and about fresh challenges in 2017. Read more -> https://t.co/tYqvxtDHYV pic.twitter.com/tZmMcKA1px

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 23 décembre 2016

A race of drivers in multiple stages: Rosberg finally emerges as the winner!

After a brief lull and the Englishman’s dominance in 2015, the Formula 1 summit clash resumed with renewed intensity. From the start of the season, the former Williams driver made a strong start by securing four consecutive victories, from Australia to Russia. On the other hand, Hamilton faced mechanical issues in China (starting last on the grid!) and in Sochi (starting 10th); as well as a collision with Bottas at the first corner in Sakhir, which cost him second place to Räikkönen at the finish.

Overall, everyone had their good moments. Hamilton mainly dominated the summer period, from Monaco to Hockenheim at the end of July. Rosberg had a strong return and won Spa, Monza, and Singapore in succession. Then, the chance of a lifetime truly unfolded for him: Hamilton’s engine failure in Sepang combined with his victory in Suzuka turned the season around. The child of the Principality took command of the championship and became the strong favorite. Threatened by the four consecutive victories of the former McLaren driver in the last four races, Rosberg had to keep his cool and not crack under pressure. Attacked by Verstappen in Mexico, on the edge under the rain in Interlagos, provoked by Hamilton in Abu Dhabi; the German applied his plan one race at a time and followed the strategy of finishing second whenever possible.

In this sense, observing the statistics of this duel is a very interesting exercise: the gap is minimal! Unlike in 2014, Lewis Hamilton has taken the lead over Nico Rosberg in Qualifications with an overall score of 12-9 in head-to-head confrontations (Rosberg had claimed 11 poles at the time, compared to 7 for Hamilton). However, the score is much tighter on Sunday, with 10-9 for Hamilton, and both men having an equal number of victories. Rosberg’s consistency – admittedly aided by more reliable mechanics – is also reflected in the laps completed in the top 10: 1189 for the champion versus 1158 for the triple world champion. This amounts to a ratio of nearly 94% of laps spent in the top ten for the driver bearing the number 6!

From then on, despite Hamilton’s setbacks, Rosberg’s excellent consistency did its work. As in the Qualifications, where he strung together a series of 27 sessions finishing in the top two, a record of its kind! (qualified second in Austria, he was penalized after the fact with a five-place grid drop for a gearbox change).

Despite the criticism regarding his lack of flair, his races in Bakou and Singapore will remain as two highlights in the construction of his title. In both instances, he took a clear advantage over Lewis Hamilton, by correctly setting up his machine in the first situation; then he resisted last-minute assaults on worn tires against a fast-charging Ricciardo on fresh super-soft tires in the other.

Flip side of the coin, this ever-present match between Rosberg and Hamilton has once again put their leaders to the test. The two main illustrations are these two contacts in Spain and Austria. An odd sensation runs through the fans at the end of this season because paradoxically, there was hardly any more direct combat on the track between the two men. Nonetheless, the pressure has been terrible, especially for the German, since Suzuka.

Ensuring the future without the reigning champion

Consequently, Nico Rosberg surprised everyone on Friday, December 2, during the FIA awards ceremony by announcing his retirement from racing! A difficult decision to make, symbolizing the pinnacle of his career; having just achieved his ultimate goal in the pinnacle discipline: joining his father Keke in the record books as world champion in 1982!

From then on, the team’s pre-season activity intensified, with the search for the ideal replacement. The casting quickly narrowed down to two credible options: Pascal Wehrlein and especially Valtteri Bottas. Fernando Alonso’s name was considered a dark horse. The challenge for Mercedes is to find a fast driver, an excellent developer, and someone who can quickly be released from their contract. Managed by Toto Wolff and powered by Mercedes at Williams, Bottas currently holds the edge. Especially since the Grove-based firm has already secured Massa’s agreement to return to their side for one last season.

Beaten for the second time by his teammate in his career (after Button at McLaren in 2011), Lewis Hamilton will be eager to return to the top of Formula 1 in 2017. Despite the trials of the last race in Abu Dhabi, the now second most victorious driver of all time (53 wins) will undoubtedly be the natural leader of Mercedes.

But will the team still be at the top of the timesheets? It will be necessary to manage the regulatory changes, especially in the aerodynamic domain. Especially since Red Bull will certainly be present at the event.

In any case, Mercedes has already made its mark in the golden book of Formula 1 with these three seasons of uninterrupted success.

One last time, we remind you that there is still time to vote for your top 10 drivers of this season! Voting will officially close this Thursday, December 29, at 11:59 PM.

And of course, on this special day, the entire Motors Inside editorial team wishes you a Merry Christmas and thanks you for your loyalty throughout the past year!