2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship explained

The 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship was a multi-event motor racing championship for single-seat open wheel formula racing cars that is held across Europe. The championship features drivers competing in two-litre Formula Three racing cars which conform to the technical regulations, or formula, for the championship. It is the fifth edition of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.

Felix Rosenqvist was the defending drivers' champion,[1] but was unable to defend his title, because of a new rule which determined that drivers could spend no more than three years in the category. His team, Prema Powerteam, were the defending winners of the teams' championship.

2016 was the final season that the Dallara F312 chassis package, which débuted in the 2012 season, was used in competition, as a brand new chassis package was introduced for 2017.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed during the 2016 season:[2]

TeamChassisEngineDriverStatusRounds
Prema PowerteamF316/002Mercedes1 Lance Stroll[3] All
F314/0152 Nick Cassidy[4] All
F315/00516 Ralf Aron[5] All
F315/00617 Maximilian Günther[6] All
CarlinF316/014Volkswagen3 Ryan Tveter[7] 1–7
F312/004 Dan Ticktum[8] G10
4 Alessio Lorandi[9] 1–7
F312/010 Lando Norris G10
F314/02018 Zhi Cong Li[10] 1–4
William Buller[11] 5
F312/040 Jake Hughes10
F315/00119 Raoul Hyman[12] 1
Weiron Tan[13] 4, 6–7
Van Amersfoort RacingMercedes5 Pedro Piquet[14] All
6 Callum Ilott[15] All
20 Harrison Newey[16] All
21 Anthoine Hubert[17] All
kfzteile24 Mücke MotorsportF316/007Mercedes7 Mikkel Jensen[18] All
F316/0128 David Beckmann[19] 3–10
MotoparkVolkswagen9 Sérgio Sette Câmara[20] All
F315/00310 Niko KariAll
F315/00722 Joel Eriksson[21] All
F314/01623 Guanyu Zhou[22] All
HitechGP[23] Mercedes11 Nikita Mazepin[24] All
F315/01012 George Russell[25] All
24 Ben Barnicoat[26] All
F315/00925 Alexander Sims[27] G10
Threebond with T-SportNBE14 Arjun Maini[28] 2–4
F316/008 Wing Chung Chang[29] 9–10
Threebond15 Arjun Maini1
F314/019 Ukyo Sasahara[30] 7, 9

Driver changes

Joining FIA European Formula 3
Changing Teams
Leaving Formula 3

Team changes

Calendar

A provisional ten-round calendar was announced on 2 December 2015.[33]

RoundCircuitDateSupporting
11 Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet2 AprilWorld Touring Car Championship
2
33 April
24 Hungaroring, Mogyoród23 April
5
624 April
37 Circuit de Pau-Ville, Pau14 MayPau Grand Prix
8
915 May
410 Red Bull Ring, Spielberg21 MayDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters
11
1222 May
513 Norisring, Nuremberg25 June
14
1526 June
616 Circuit Park Zandvoort, Zandvoort16 July
17
1817 July
719 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps29 July24 Hours of Spa
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
20
2130 July
822 Nürburgring, Rhineland-Palatinate10 SeptemberDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters
23
2411 September
925 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola1 OctoberEuropean Touring Car Cup
FFSA GT Championship
262 October
27
1028 Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg15 OctoberDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters
2916 October
30

Results

RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning team
1R1 Circuit Paul Ricard Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ben Barnicoat
R2 Maximilian Günther Nick Cassidy Callum Ilottnowrap Van Amersfoort Racing Guanyu Zhou
R3 Maximilian Günther Joel Eriksson Maximilian Günther Prema Powerteam Joel Eriksson
2R1 Hungaroring Maximilian Günther Joel Eriksson Ralf Aron Prema Powerteam Ralf Aron
R2nowrap Maximilian Günthernowrap Maximilian Günthernowrap Maximilian Günther Prema Powerteam Ralf Aron
R3 Maximilian Günther Lance Stroll Ben Barnicoat HitechGP Ben Barnicoat
3R1 Circuit de Pau-Ville Lance Stroll Callum Ilott Ben Barnicoat HitechGP Ben Barnicoat
R2 George Russell George Russell George Russell HitechGP Ben Barnicoat
R3 Alessio Lorandi Anthoine Hubert Alessio Lorandi Carlin Joel Eriksson
4R1 Red Bull Ring Callum Ilott Callum Ilott Callum Ilott Van Amersfoort Racingnowrap David Beckmann
R2 Lance Strollnowrap Sérgio Sette Câmara Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Niko Kari
R3 Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ben Barnicoat
5R1 Norisring Lance Stroll Callum Ilott Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Niko Kari
R2 Anthoine Hubert Lance Stroll Anthoine Hubert Van Amersfoort Racing Anthoine Hubert
R3 Lance Stroll Alessio Lorandi Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Anthoine Hubert
6R1 Circuit Park Zandvoort Nick Cassidy Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Niko Kari
R2 Callum Ilott Maximilian Günther Nick Cassidy Prema Powerteam Anthoine Hubert
R3 Maximilian Günther Lance Stroll Maximilian Günther Prema Powerteam David Beckmann
7R1 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ben Barnicoat
R2 George Russell George Russell George Russell HitechGP Joel Eriksson
R3 George Russell George Russell Joel Eriksson Motopark Joel Eriksson
8R1 Nürburgring Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ralf Aron
R2 Lance Stroll Maximilian Günther Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Joel Eriksson
R3 Maximilian Günther Maximilian Günther Maximilian Günther Prema Powerteam Niko Kari
9R1 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Niko Kari Motopark Niko Kari
R2 Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Joel Eriksson
R3 Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ralf Aron
10R1 Hockenheimring Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Ralf Aron
R2 Lance Stroll David Beckmann Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Joel Eriksson
R3 Joel Eriksson Lance Stroll Lance Stroll Prema Powerteam Joel Eriksson

Championship standings

Scoring system
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Points251815121086421

Drivers' championship

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center"
DriverLEC
HUN
PAU
RBR
NOR
ZAN
SPA
NÜR
IMO
HOC
Points
R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3
1 Lance Stroll1Ret54839422111211RetRet1Ret4112211111507
2 Maximilian Günther5Ret151Ret31413363Ret3542127622112Ret12289320
3 George Russell31118Ret4Ret41352Ret39Ret7955133Ret743276Ret264
4 Nick Cassidy222Ret169216Ret6Ret1064621241754Ret510783Ret4254
5 Joel Eriksson6933Ret2149617146Ret5Ret121071421736325622252
6 Callum Ilott10112Ret96534142Ret77536165Ret57415Ret3RetDSQRet226
7 Ralf Aron7Ret712DNS13615912941091468814136414744458166
8 Anthoine Hubert1786Ret1314127121610168129410Ret42105956610710160
9 Ben Barnicoat4Ret1191011511101555RetDSQ1889311209Ret108Ret131897134
10 Niko Kari816152Ret8191182038212Ret6111111107810319Ret141213129
111651975582Ret1284RetRet311171515Ret151188Ret15115146117
12 Mikkel Jensen13441071168545Ret78Ret151312Ret3915131711107Ret15DNS107
13 Guanyu Zhou143883411RetRet13117Ret64161816178111212126510111311101
14 Alessio Lorandi12696612101511191712Ret835410131796
15 David Beckmann17RetRet77121013Ret10737161013613RetRet91231867
16 Jake Hughes194327
17 Ryan Tveter157Ret1111DNS7Ret715DNSDNS13Ret1381414991625
18 Harrison Newey9Ret1412121015Ret148161114Ret101912186121214111198Ret15181222
19 Pedro Piquet1114Ret1314720Ret1019Ret139RetRet1316131861417915Ret121416171519
20 Nikita Mazepin191210EXRet131613Ret14171411111117151712Ret8161416131115810Ret10
21 Arjun MainiRet131614151518109RetRet183
22 Raoul Hyman1810131
23 Zhi Cong Li20151715Ret16Ret12Ret18DNSDNS0
24 William BullerRetRet120
25 Weiron TanRet13152019RetRet15180
26 Ukyo Sasahara13Ret19Ret13Ret0
27 Wing Chung Chang1414161719170
Guest drivers ineligible for points
Alexander Sims91150
Dan Ticktum1320140
Lando NorrisRet16160
DriverR1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3Points
LEC
HUN
PAU
RBR
NOR
ZAN
SPA
NÜR
IMO
HOC
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

Rookies' Championship

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center"
DriverLEC
HUN
PAU
RBR
NOR
ZAN
SPA
NÜR
IMO
HOC
Points
R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3
1 Joel Eriksson6933Ret2149617106Ret5Ret121071421736325622470
2 Ralf Aron7Ret712DNS13615913951091468814136414744458418
3 Anthoine Hubert1786Ret1314127121211168129410Ret42105956610710392
4 Ben Barnicoat4Ret1191011511101556RetDSQ1889311209Ret108Ret131897342
5 Niko Kari816152Ret8191182048212Ret6111111107810319Ret141213340
6 Guanyu Zhou143883411RetRet14127Ret641618161781112 12126510111311304
7align=left nowrap David Beckmann17RetRet77121013Ret10737171013613RetRet912318221
8 Harrison Newey9Ret1412121015Ret1481611RetRet101912186121214111198Ret151812202
9 Nikita Mazepin191210EXRet131613Ret15171411111117151712Ret8161416131115810Ret171
10 Ukyo Sasahara13Ret19Ret13Ret12
DriverR1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3Points
LEC
HUN
PAU
RBR
NOR
ZAN
SPA
NÜR
IMO
HOC

Teams' championship

Prior to each round of the championship, two drivers from each team – if applicable – were nominated to score teams' championship points.

PosTeamPoints
1 Prema Powerteam780
2 HitechGP499
3 Motopark431
4 Van Amersfoort Racing416
5 kfzteile24 Mücke Motorsport297
6 Carlin238
7 Threebond with T-Sport32

Notes and References

  1. News: Rosenqvist is European F3 champion after Nurburgring hat-trick. Allen. Peter. 27 September 2015. Paddock Scout. 12 November 2015.
  2. Web site: 2016 FIA FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: General Entry List. 2 March 2016. 2 March 2016.
  3. News: Lance Stroll to stay in F3 with Prema in 2016. Allen. Peter. 3 November 2015. Paddock Scout. 12 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Cassidy completes Prema's European F3 line-up. 8 February 2016. 8 February 2016.
  5. News: Italian F4 champion Ralf Aron makes F3 step with Prema. Allen. Peter. Paddock Scout. 15 December 2015. 15 December 2015.
  6. News: Maximilian Gunther gets Prema F3 deal for 2016. Allen. Peter. 22 December 2015. Paddock Scout. 22 December 2015.
  7. News: Carlin retains Ryan Tveter for European F3 in 2016. Allen. Peter. Paddock Scout. 16 December 2015. 16 December 2015.
  8. Web site: 2016 FIA FORMULA 3 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Provisional Entry List Hockenheim 2016. 10 October 2016. European Formula 3 Championship. FIA. 11 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223343/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/wp-content/uploads/ergebnisse/2016-10-16-el.pdf. 11 October 2016. dead.
  9. Web site: Lorandi moves to Carlin for second European F3 season. 19 January 2016. 19 January 2016.
  10. News: FIA F3 EC announces initial entries – final deadline pushed back. European Formula 3 Championship. 16 February 2016. 16 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160216190701/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/en/news/FIA-F3-EC-announces-initial-entries-final-deadline-pushed-back.html. 16 February 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  11. News: Carlin return to Norisring with Buller on board. Carlin. 23 June 2016. 23 June 2016. 11 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160811121237/http://www.carlin.co.uk/news/fia-european/carlin-return-norisring-buller-board/. dead.
  12. Web site: 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Provisional Entry List Paul Ricard. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
  13. News: Weiron Tan completes Carlin's line up at Red Bull Ring. Carlin. 20 May 2016. 20 May 2016. 9 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160609224208/http://www.carlin.co.uk/news/fia-european/weiron-tan-completes-carlins-line-red-bull-ring/. dead.
  14. News: Pedro Piquet signs with Van Amersfoort for European F3 move. Allen. Peter. 11 November 2015. Paddock Scout. 12 November 2015.
  15. News: Callum Ilott moves to Van Amersfoort for 2016. Allen. Peter. 6 January 2016. Paddock Scout. 6 January 2016.
  16. News: Harrison Newey confirms F3 move with Van Amersfoort. Chokhani. Darshan. 13 January 2016. motorsport.com. 13 January 2016.
  17. News: Anthoine Hubert lands F3 seat with Van Amersfoort Racing. Allen. Peter. 29 February 2016. 29 February 2016.
  18. News: Mikkel Jensen continues with Mucke Motorsport in European F3. Bosley. Jacob. 2 February 2016. Paddock Scout. 2 February 2016.
  19. News: Beckmann secures F3 move, gets Red Bull backing. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. 18 December 2015. Motorsport.com. 21 December 2015.
  20. News: New names injected into the Red Bull Junior Team for 2016. Red Bull Junior Team. 11 December 2015. 11 December 2015.
  21. News: Joel Eriksson moves up to European F3 with Motopark. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. Haymarket Media Group. 19 January 2016. 19 January 2016.
  22. News: Ferrari protege Guan Yu Zhou gets Motopark European Formula 3 seat. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. Haymarket Media Group. 15 February 2016. 15 February 2016.
  23. Web site: ART Grand Prix to return to Formula 3 in support of HitechGP. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. Haymarket Media Group. 1 December 2015. 1 December 2015.
  24. News: Nikita Mazepin steps up to F3 with HitechGP. Allen. Peter. Paddock Scout. 18 December 2015. 18 December 2015.
  25. News: Russell joins Hitech for sophomore F3 season. Klein. Jamie. Motorsport.com. 11 December 2015. 11 December 2015.
  26. News: Ben Barnicoat seals Hitech European Formula 3 Championship deal. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. Haymarket Media Group. 14 January 2016. 14 January 2016.
  27. Web site: BMW factory driver Alexander Sims back in F3 for Hockenheim finale. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. 10 October 2016. 10 October 2016.
  28. News: Maini switches to T-Sport for second European F3 campaign. Khorounzhiy. Valentin. 21 December 2015. Motorsport.com. 21 December 2015.
  29. News: T-Sport to field two-car team at Imola. FIA European Formula 3 Championship. 20 September 2016. 29 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161001190930/http://www.fiaf3europe.com/2016/09/20/t-sport-field-two-car-team-imola/. 1 October 2016. dead.
  30. Web site: T-Sport back to European Formula 3 with ex-FRenault ace Sasahara. Simmons. Marcus. Autosport. 13 July 2016. 13 July 2016.
  31. Web site: Fortec guarda alla Open F.3 Double R ferma il programma FIA (Fortec F3 Open looks at Double R stops the FIA program). 15 February 2016. 18 February 2016. "The passage of two young talented rookies like Charles Leclerc and Alexander Albon GP3, when they could go for the title in the FIA Formula 3 this year, is a significant message to the Federation who thought he had charted a new course for all unbeatable".
  32. News: Belardi Auto Racing confirms Felix Rosenqvist for Indy Lights. Indy Lights. 24 February 2016. 24 February 2016. 23 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200623021303/https://www.indylights.com/news/belardi-auto-racing-confirms-felix-rosenqvist-for-indy-lights. dead.
  33. News: No British round for FIA F3 European Championship in 2016. Allen. Peter. 2 December 2015. Paddock Scout. 2 December 2015.