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2016 GP2 Series
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The 2016 GP2 Series season was the fiftieth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also twelfth and final season under the GP2 Series moniker, a motor racing feeder series that was run in support of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship. It was the final season run under the "GP2 Series" name, with the championship being rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2017. It was also originally scheduled to be the final season for the Dallara GP2/11 chassis that was introduced in 2011 and the Mecachrome 4.0 litre V8 normally-aspirated engine package that débuted in the maiden season of the series in 2005 before a brand new chassis and engine package was introduced for 2017, however due to another cost-cutting, the series announced it would keep the current chassis and engine package for one more season.
ART Grand Prix started the season as the defending teams' champions after securing the title–their fourth in the championship–at the series' second visit to the Bahrain International Circuit in 2015.[1] Prema Racing won the Teams' championship, their first in the series and first attempt, while Pierre Gasly won the Drivers' championship.
Pierre Gasly took 4 race wins and the championship. The most races were won by Gasly’s teammate Antonio Giovinazzi, who took 5 victories, Sergey Sirotkin took victories at Mogyoród in the sprint race, and in Hockenheim - he took pole position and won the race. Alex Lynn got 3 sprint races wins, Racing Engineering drivers Jordan King and Norman Nato took 2 race wins each, and Luca Ghiotto, Artem Markelov, Mitch Evans and Nobuharu Matsushita each got 1 race win.
Teams and drivers
[edit]| Team | No. | Driver name | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
 ART Grand Prix[2]
|
1 |  Nobuharu Matsushita[3]
|
1–3, 5–11 |
 René Binder[4]
|
4 | ||
| 2 |  Sergey Sirotkin[5]
|
All | |
 Racing Engineering[2]
|
3 | Norman Nato[6]
|
All |
| 4 |  Jordan King[7]
|
All | |
| DAMS[2]
|
5 | Alex Lynn[8]
|
All |
| 6 |  Nicholas Latifi[8]
|
All | |
 Pertamina Campos Racing[a]
|
7 |  Mitch Evans[9]
|
All |
| 8 | Sean Gelael[9]
|
All | |
| Russian Time[2]
|
9 |  Raffaele Marciello[10]
|
All |
| 10 | Artem Markelov[9]
|
All | |
| Rapax[2]
|
11 |  Gustav Malja[11]
|
All |
| 12 | Arthur Pic[12]
|
1–9 | |
 Johnny Cecotto Jr.[13][b]
|
10–11 | ||
| Trident[2]
|
14 | Philo Paz Armand[14]
|
All |
| 15 | Luca Ghiotto[15]
|
All | |
| Carlin[2]
|
18 | Sergio Canamasas[16]
|
1–6, 8–11 |
| René Binder[17]
|
7 | ||
| 19 |  Marvin Kirchhöfer[18]
|
1–10 | |
 Louis Delétraz[19]
|
11 | ||
| Prema Racing[20]
|
20 | Antonio Giovinazzi[21]
|
All |
| 21 | Pierre Gasly[22]
|
All | |
 MP Motorsport[2]
|
22 | Oliver Rowland[23]
|
All |
| 23 | Daniël de Jong[24]
|
All | |
| Arden International[2]
|
24 |  Nabil Jeffri[25]
|
All |
| 25 | Jimmy Eriksson[25]
|
1–9 | |
| Emil Bernstorff[26]
|
11 | ||
| Sources:[27][28] | |||
Team changes
[edit]- Lazarus left the series at the end of the 2015 season, with their place taken by Prema Racing.[20]
- Hilmer Motorsport left the series at the end of the 2015 season. As no replacement team could be found, the grid was left at twenty-two cars.
- Status Grand Prix also left the series before the 2016 season due to not being able to find any well-budgeted drivers and also lack of sponsorship for their second season. With the demise of the team, there were no number #16 and #17 cars on the grid.
Driver changes
[edit]- Changing teams
- Sergio Canamasas, who raced for MP Motorsport, Hilmer Motorsport and Daiko Team Lazarus in 2015, switched to Carlin.[16]
- Mitch Evans and Sean Gelael, who drove for Russian Time and Carlin respectively in 2015, moved to Campos Racing.[9]
- Pierre Gasly, who spent the 2015 season with DAMS, moved to newcomers Prema Racing.[22]
- Nicholas Latifi, who took part in three rounds of the 2015 season with MP Motorsport, switched to a full-time seat with DAMS.[8]
- Gustav Malja, who raced for Trident and Rapax in 2015, switched Formula Renault 3.5 Series to race full-time with Rapax.[11]
- Raffaele Marciello, who raced for Trident in 2015, moved to Russian Time.[10]
- Norman Nato, who raced for Arden International in 2015, switched to Racing Engineering.[6]
- Arthur Pic, who raced for Campos in 2014 and 2015, switched to Rapax.[12]
- Oliver Rowland, who previously raced part-time for MP Motorsport and Status Grand Prix, is contesting the full season with MP Motorsport, with backing from Renault.[23]
- Sergey Sirotkin, who finished third in 2015, moved from Rapax to defending champions ART Grand Prix.[5]
- Entering GP2
- 2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series competitor Philo Paz Armand joined the series with Trident.[14]
- GP3 Series race winner Jimmy Eriksson made his series début with Arden International.[25]
- 2015 GP3 runner-up Luca Ghiotto graduated to the series with Trident.[15]
- 2015 European Formula 3 runner-up Antonio Giovinazzi made his début in the series with Prema Racing.[21]
- Nabil Jeffri joined the series with Arden International.[25]
- Marvin Kirchhöfer, who placed third in the 2014 and 2015 GP3 Series joined the series with Carlin.[18]
- Leaving GP2
- Nathanaël Berthon left Lazarus and the series to join the FIA World Endurance Championship with G-Drive Racing.[29]
- Rene Binder left MP Motorsport to join Lotus in Formula V8 3.5 Series.[30]
- Rio Haryanto left Campos Racing and the series to join Formula One team Manor Racing.[31]
- André Negrão and Dean Stoneman left Arden and Carlin and the series to join the Indy Lights with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Andretti Autosport.[32][33]
- Richie Stanaway and Marco Sørensen, who raced for Status Grand Prix and Carlin, left to join the FIA World Endurance Championship with Aston Martin Racing.[34][35]
- 2015 season champion Stoffel Vandoorne left the series as the reigning champion is not permitted to continue competing in the series. He joined the Super Formula with Docomo Team Dandelion Racing.[36]
- Mid-season changes
- ART Grand Prix driver Nobuharu Matsushita was suspended for the fourth round of the season in Austria due to erratic driving at the previous event in Baku.[37] He was replaced by René Binder.[4] Binder later joined Carlin, replacing Sergio Canamasas.
Calendar
[edit]On 4 March 2016, the full calendar was revealed with eleven rounds taking place.[38]
Calendar changes
[edit]- The series returned to the Hockenheimring in support of the German Grand Prix, and the Sepang International Circuit.[38]
- With the return to Germany, the second Bahrain round—which had filled in as a replacement event in 2015—was removed from the calendar.
- The rounds at the Bahrain International Circuit and the Sochi Autodrom were discontinued after the Bahrain and Russian Grands Prix were brought forward to the start of the Formula One season.[38]
- The series made its début at the Baku City Circuit in support of the returning European Grand Prix.[38]
Results and standings
[edit]Season summary
[edit]Scoring system
[edit]Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 8 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race also received four points, and two points were given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points were awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race.[28]
- Feature race points
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Pole | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
- Sprint race points
Points were awarded to the top 8 classified finishers.[28]
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Drivers' championship
[edit]
|
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Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Teams' championship
[edit]
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Pertamina Campos Racing competed under a Spanish licence in round 1 and an Indonesian licence for the rest of the season.
- ^ Cecotto competed under a state Venezuelan racing licence.
- ^ Pierre Gasly set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Artem Markelov was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Norman Nato set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Jordan King was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Oliver Rowland set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Nobuharu Matsushita was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Artem Markelov set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Pierre Gasly was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Nobuharu Matsushita set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Artem Markelov was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Nobuharu Matsushita set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Sergey Sirotkin was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Sergio Canamasas set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Pierre Gasly was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Luca Ghiotto set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Sergey Sirotkin was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
References
[edit]- ^ "Vandoorne leads Matsushita for an ART 1–2". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "GP2 Series announce teams for 2014–16". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ "ART Grand Prix confirm Matsushita for a second season". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Rene Binder to race with ART Grand Prix in Austria". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Sirotkin joins ART Grand Prix for the 2016 season". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Racing Engineering confirm Norman Nato for 2016 season". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Jordan King stays with Racing Engineering for 2016 GP2 season". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ a b c "DAMS announce 2016 line up". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d Khorounzhiy, Valentin (1 December 2015). "Evans and Gelael to join Campos for 2016 GP2 campaign". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Russian Time confirm 2016 line up". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Rapax to field Gustav Malja for 2016 season". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Rapax and Arthur Pic join forces for 2016 GP2 Series". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Cecotto replaces Pic for Sepang GP2 round". 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Armand joins Trident team for the 2016 season". Trident Racing. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Ghiotto secures GP2 promotion with Trident". motorsport.com. Valentin Khorounzhiy. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
- ^ a b Khorounzhiy, Valentin (12 May 2016). "Canamasas joins Carlin for home GP2 round in Barcelona". motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Carlin shuffles GP2 line-up for Hockenheim round - GP2 - Autosport". www.autosport.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Kirchhofer graduates to GP2 with Carlin". Motorsport.com. 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "Louis Deletraz joins Carlin for GP2 debut at season finale". 18 November 2016. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Prema take over Lazarus 2016 team entry". GP2Series.com. GP2 Series. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ a b "European F3 runner-up Antonio Giovinazzi gets Prema GP2 seat". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Gasly joins Prema Racing in 2016". GP2Series.com. GP2 Series. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Rowland chooses MP Motorsport for GP2 move". Motorsport.com. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "De Jong continues with MP Motorsport in 2016". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Arden International confirm 2016 line-up". gp2series.com. GP2 Series. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ "Bernstorff gets GP2 debut with Arden". 19 November 2016. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ "GP2 Series – 2016: Entrylist". Speedsport Magazine. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "GP2 Series – Season 2016". Speedsport Magazine. pp. 2, 3. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (3 February 2016). "G-Drive announces JOTA link, signs Berthon". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Allen, Peter (21 March 2016). "Lotus team to run Binder and Nissany in Formula V8 3.5". paddockscout.com. Paddock Scout. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ Barretto, Lawrence (18 February 2016). "Manor Racing confirms Rio Haryanto as second Formula 1 driver". Autosport. Haymarket Press. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ O'Connell, R.J. (24 February 2016). "Dean Stoneman switches to Indy Lights with Andretti". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Enerson heads Schmidt Peterson 1–2–3 in Phoenix test". 26 February 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
Ex-GP2 journeyman Andre Negrao, from Brazil, at 22.0128 admitted he was behind the eight ball learning ovals, but felt better by the end of the test.
- ^ DiZinno, Tony (5 February 2016). "32 Full Season Entries for WEC". Sportscar365. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ Watkins, Gary (19 February 2016). "Aston Martin switches to Dunlop for 2016 WEC, names driver line-ups". Autosport. Haymarket Press. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Honda 2016 Motorsports Program Overview". Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Matsushita suspended for next event". GP2 Series. GP2 Series Limited. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d "GP2 Series 2016 season calendar confirmed". gp2series.com. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "GP2 Series Calendar 2016". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "GP2 Fastest laps". motorsportstats.com. Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
- ^ "GP2 Series Results 2016". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ a b "GP2 Series Standings 2016". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
External links
[edit]2016 GP2 Series
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and Regulations
Season Overview
The 2016 GP2 Series was the twelfth season under the GP2 banner, serving as the premier feeder series to Formula One and marking the culmination of the category's format before its evolution. Running from May to November 2016, the championship consisted of 11 double-header events that supported the 2016 Formula One World Championship at circuits worldwide.[2][5] The season featured 22 races in total—11 longer feature races and 11 shorter sprint races—contested by 11 teams fielding 22 identical cars. Each entry utilized the Dallara GP2/11 chassis powered by a Mecachrome 4.0-liter V8 engine, emphasizing close competition through standardized equipment.[6][7] Pierre Gasly of Prema Racing secured the Drivers' Championship with 219 points, including four race wins that propelled him to the title in the season's final round. Prema Racing claimed the Teams' Championship with a dominant 430 points tally from their drivers' performances, securing victory on debut in the series.[2][8] The 2016 campaign was the last under the GP2 name, with the series rebranding to the FIA Formula 2 Championship for 2017.[9]Technical Specifications
The 2016 GP2 Series employed the Dallara GP2/11 chassis, a carbon fiber monocoque design introduced in 2011 that emphasized structural integrity and driver safety while serving as a standardized platform across all teams.[10] This chassis, measuring approximately 5.065 meters in length with a wheelbase of 3.12 meters, weighed 688 kg including the driver and supported the series' role as a Formula 1 feeder category by simulating high-level open-wheel racing conditions.[11] Powering the cars was the Mecachrome V8108, a 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine delivering around 620 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, with all units produced to identical specifications to ensure parity among competitors.[10] The engine, longitudinally mounted and rear-engined, was paired with a Hewland six-speed sequential paddle-shift gearbox including reverse, contributing to the series' focus on driver skill over mechanical differences.[11] Tires were supplied exclusively by Pirelli, with each race weekend featuring two dry compounds selected by Pirelli, allocated as five dry sets per car (three of the harder compound, two of the softer) plus three wet sets; teams were required to return one set of the harder compound after practice.[12] These 13-inch wheels promoted tire management strategies akin to Formula 1, with compounds selected to suit track characteristics and encourage strategic pit stops.[13] The race format consisted of two events per weekend: a feature race lasting 60 minutes plus one lap (or a maximum distance equivalent to about 160 km, with a mandatory pit stop for at least two tires) held on Saturday, and a shorter sprint race of 30 minutes plus one lap (or about 120 km, without a mandatory stop) on Sunday, using a reverse grid for the top eight qualifiers from the feature race.[12] This structure tested endurance, strategy, and overtaking ability, with practice and qualifying sessions on Friday setting the feature race grid.[14] Points were distributed to reward consistent performance, with the top three finishers in the feature race earning 25, 18, and 15 points respectively (extending to 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 for positions 4 through 10), while the sprint race awarded 15, 12, and 10 to the top three (down to 8, 6, 4, 2, and 1 for 4 through 8); an additional two points went to the feature race pole-sitter, and one point for the fastest lap in either race if the driver finished in the top 10.[15] Safety features aligned with FIA standards of the era, including the Head and Neck Support (HANS) device and enhanced cockpit padding, but the halo head protection system had not yet been introduced, with its debut occurring in the subsequent Formula 2 era in 2018.[16]Teams and Drivers
Team Entries and Changes
The 2016 GP2 Series consisted of 11 teams, each operating two cars (except Carlin, which started with one before adding a second) and using the standardized Dallara GP2/11 chassis powered by a 4.0-litre Mecachrome V8 engine producing 620 hp. This spec formula ensured parity across the field, with teams focusing on setup optimization and driver talent rather than mechanical development.[17] The participating teams, along with their nationalities, were as follows:| Team | Nationality |
|---|---|
| ART Grand Prix | French |
| Arden International | British |
| Carlin | British |
| Campos Racing | Spanish |
| DAMS | French |
| MP Motorsport | Dutch |
| Prema Racing | Italian |
| Racing Engineering | Spanish |
| Rapax | Italian |
| Russian Time | Russian |
| Trident | Italian |
Driver Line-ups and Changes
The 2016 GP2 Series grid consisted of 11 teams fielding 22 cars, with a total of 26 unique drivers participating across the season owing to multiple mid-season replacements. Prema Racing entered as newcomers to the series, pairing French Red Bull Junior Team driver Pierre Gasly with Italian rookie Antonio Giovinazzi, while established teams like ART Grand Prix and DAMS retained experienced line-ups focused on consistency. Other squads, including Russian Time and Racing Engineering, emphasized driver continuity from prior years to build on previous successes.| Team | Car No. | Driver 1 | Driver 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ART Grand Prix | 1 | Nobuharu Matsushita (JPN) / René Binder (AUT) | Sergey Sirotkin (RUS) |
| ART Grand Prix | 2 | ||
| Racing Engineering | 3 | Norman Nato (FRA) | Jordan King (GBR) |
| Racing Engineering | 4 | ||
| DAMS | 5 | Alex Lynn (GBR) | Nicholas Latifi (CAN) |
| DAMS | 6 | ||
| Jagonya Ayam Campos Racing | 7 | Mitch Evans (NZL) | Sean Gelael (INA) |
| Jagonya Ayam Campos Racing | 8 | ||
| Russian Time | 9 | Raffaele Marciello (ITA) | Artem Markelov (RUS) |
| Russian Time | 10 | ||
| Rapax | 11 | Gustav Malja (SWE) | Arthur Pic (FRA) / Johnny Cecotto Jr. (VEN) |
| Rapax | 12 | ||
| Trident | 14 | Philo Paz Armand (INA) | Luca Ghiotto (ITA) |
| Trident | 15 | ||
| Carlin | 18 | Sergio Canamasas (ESP) / René Binder (AUT) | Marvin Kirchhöfer (GER) / Louis Delétraz (SUI) |
| Carlin | 19 | ||
| Prema Racing | 20 | Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) | Pierre Gasly (FRA) |
| Prema Racing | 21 | ||
| MP Motorsport | 22 | Oliver Rowland (GBR) | Daniël de Jong (NED) |
| MP Motorsport | 23 | ||
| Arden International | 24 | Nabil Jeffri (MAL) | Jimmy Eriksson (SWE) / Emil Bernstorff (GBR) |
| Arden International | 25 |
Calendar and Schedule
Round Locations and Dates
The 2016 GP2 Series featured 11 double-header rounds, each consisting of a feature race on Saturday and a sprint race on Sunday, held exclusively as support events to the Formula One World Championship across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.[20] The calendar began in mid-May with the Spanish Grand Prix weekend and concluded in late November at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, spanning diverse circuits from high-speed European tracks to street circuits and tropical venues.[21] The season's rounds included a mix of traditional European circuits like the 4.657 km Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the opener, where the feature race covered 33 laps, and the iconic 3.337 km Circuit de Monaco, known for its tight street layout and 40-lap feature race that tested driver precision.[22][23] Flyaway events added variety, such as the debut at the 6.003 km Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, with its long straights and feature race of 26 laps, and the return to the 5.543 km Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, featuring 31 laps for the feature race on its flowing, technical layout. The full schedule is as follows:| Round | Circuit | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | Montmeló, Spain | 13–15 May |
| 2 | Circuit de Monaco | Monte Carlo, Monaco | 26–28 May |
| 3 | Baku City Circuit | Baku, Azerbaijan | 17–19 June |
| 4 | Red Bull Ring | Spielberg, Austria | 1–3 July |
| 5 | Silverstone Circuit | Silverstone, UK | 8–10 July |
| 6 | Hungaroring | Mogyoród, Hungary | 22–24 July |
| 7 | Hockenheimring | Hockenheim, Germany | 29–31 July |
| 8 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | Stavelot, Belgium | 26–28 August |
| 9 | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | Monza, Italy | 2–4 September |
| 10 | Sepang International Circuit | Sepang, Malaysia | 30 September – 2 October |
| 11 | Yas Marina Circuit | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 25–27 November |
Calendar Modifications
The 2016 GP2 Series calendar featured several key modifications compared to the previous year, primarily driven by adjustments to the Formula 1 World Championship schedule and efforts to optimize costs for teams. The rounds at the Bahrain International Circuit and Sochi Autodrom, which had been part of the 2015 calendar, were discontinued after the corresponding F1 Grands Prix were rescheduled to earlier dates—Bahrain on April 3 and Russia on May 1—making them incompatible with GP2's traditional May start to allow for pre-season testing and preparation.[24] This shift enabled a return to a more Europe-centric focus in the early season, avoiding the logistical strain of transcontinental travel at the outset.[25] To fill the gaps and enhance the series' alignment with F1, new venues were introduced, including the inaugural GP2 event at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan on June 17–19, replacing the Sochi slot and providing drivers with experience on a street circuit similar to other high-profile F1 layouts. Additionally, the calendar incorporated Asian rounds with a return to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia (September 30–October 2), the latter marking the series' first visit since 2013 after a hiatus prompted by prior cost-saving measures that had eliminated several flyaway events.[25] These additions were selected to maximize educational value for aspiring F1 drivers by mirroring the support series role, while also addressing economic sustainability through targeted sponsorship support for the Malaysian round.[24] The modifications maintained the total at 11 rounds, matching 2015, but restructured the itinerary to reduce overall travel demands on teams and logistics providers. By eliminating the early-season Bahrain trip and substituting Sochi with the geographically closer Baku, the calendar minimized long-haul flights in the first half of the year, allowing for a more compact European block from May to August before the flyaways to Baku, Sepang, and Abu Dhabi. GP2 chief executive Bruno Michel emphasized that these changes aimed at cost efficiencies without compromising the series' competitive intensity or its role as an F1 feeder.[25] Overall, the revised schedule enhanced operational predictability and reduced financial burdens, contributing to a more focused season progression.Season Progression
Key Races and Events
The 2016 GP2 Series featured several dramatic incidents that shaped the season's narrative, including Round 4 in Baku, where a multi-car collision at the first corner of the feature race eliminated five drivers just seconds after the start. The incident, triggered by Pierre Gasly making contact with Norman Nato at Turn 1, led to a lengthy red flag period and highlighted the challenges of the new street circuit's tight Turn 1. Polesitter Antonio Giovinazzi maintained the lead on the restart to secure his maiden GP2 victory, marking a breakthrough for the Italian rookie despite the race's early carnage.[26][27] Mid-season milestones underscored the emergence of young talent, exemplified by Gasly's first GP2 win in the Silverstone feature race, a poignant achievement dedicated to his mother, who was hospitalized following a road accident en route to the event. This victory, Gasly's breakthrough after a winless start to the year, propelled Prema Racing's intra-team title battle with Giovinazzi and demonstrated the French driver's resilience amid personal adversity. Giovinazzi, meanwhile, amassed five race wins as a rookie, showcasing consistent pace, though his season included a notable controversy at Monza, where he was excluded from qualifying for illegal low tire pressures, forcing a last-row start in the feature race that he remarkably converted into victory.[28][29] The sprint race in Baku added to the round's mayhem, with a lap-12 pile-up involving three cars bringing out another safety car and contributing to one of the highest deployment counts of the season, as the narrow track amplified minor contacts into major disruptions.[30] Such incidents, including Nobuharu Matsushita's subsequent one-round suspension for erratic driving in Baku—stemming from multiple on-track clashes—underscored safety concerns and led to FIA scrutiny of driving standards. Prema's dominance, with both drivers frequently on the podium, occasionally sparked discussions on strategic team coordination, though no formal controversies arose.[31] The season's climax unfolded in Abu Dhabi, where Gasly clinched the drivers' championship with a commanding feature race victory from pole, overcoming a seven-point deficit to teammate Giovinazzi entering the finale. This result not only secured Prema's inaugural teams' title but also paved the way for Gasly's off-track progression, as his championship success positioned him for a Toro Rosso Formula 1 debut in 2017, fulfilling Red Bull's junior program pathway despite initial delays.[32][33]Driver and Team Performances
The 2016 GP2 Series featured intense competition, with early rounds marked by the dominance of established teams like ART Grand Prix and DAMS, who leveraged their experience to secure key poles and victories through drivers such as Sergey Sirotkin and Alex Lynn.[34][35] ART, the defending teams' champions, started strongly with Sirotkin's pole in Austria and consistent top finishes, while DAMS capitalized on Lynn's pace for wins including the Barcelona sprint and Hockenheim sprint in the early rounds.[8] This period highlighted the reliability of midfield machinery and strategic prowess in feature races, setting a fragmented points landscape before newcomers asserted themselves. Mid-season saw a dramatic shift as Prema Racing, entering GP2 for the first time, surged to the forefront with the potent driver pairing of Pierre Gasly and Antonio Giovinazzi, combining for nine wins and numerous podiums that propelled the Italian squad to the teams' championship with 430 points.[8][36] Gasly's consistency shone through, securing four victories—including at Silverstone, Spa, and Abu Dhabi—and just four retirements across 22 races, complemented by four pole positions that underscored his qualifying prowess.[36] In contrast, Giovinazzi displayed raw speed with five wins and eight podiums but was hampered by occasional errors, such as off-track excursions, which cost him the title despite leading the standings into the final round.[36] Their synergy transformed Prema from outsiders to dominators, particularly from Monza onward, where the team locked out front rows and dictated race strategies. Russian Time maintained a steady presence with consistent podium finishes, amassing 256 points for third in the teams' standings despite only one victory, largely driven by Artem Markelov's opportunistic drives in chaotic races like Monaco.[8] Meanwhile, midfield battles intensified between squads like Campos Racing and Rapax, where drivers such as Arthur Pic and Johnny Cecotto Jr. fought for sporadic points in sprint races, highlighting the series' depth and the challenges of inconsistent setups on varied circuits.[37] Sergey Sirotkin, despite ART's early promise, delivered a solid points haul of 159 through two wins and three poles, though his campaign was marred by inconsistencies and crashes that prevented a title challenge.[36] Overall, the season's statistical highlights included Gasly's four poles and the high rate of overtakes in sprint formats, reflecting the competitiveness that saw 10 different winners across 22 races.[38]Results and Standings
Scoring System
The 2016 GP2 Series utilized a points-based scoring system for both the Drivers' and Teams' Championships, awarding points based on finishing positions in the feature and sprint races, as well as additional bonuses for pole position and fastest laps. This system, introduced in 2012 to align more closely with Formula 1, remained unchanged through the final GP2 season. Points were only awarded to classified finishers who completed at least 75% of the race distance.[39] In the feature race, the longer event of the weekend typically held on Saturday, points were distributed to the top 10 finishers as follows: 25 points for 1st place, 18 for 2nd, 15 for 3rd, 12 for 4th, 10 for 5th, 8 for 6th, 6 for 7th, 4 for 8th, 2 for 9th, and 1 for 10th. An additional 4 points were awarded to the driver achieving pole position in qualifying for the feature race. Furthermore, 2 points were given to the driver setting the fastest lap, provided they finished in the top 10.[8][39] The sprint race, a shorter event on Sunday with a partially reversed grid based on feature race results (top 8 reversed), awarded points to the top 8 finishers: 15 points for 1st, 12 for 2nd, 10 for 3rd, 8 for 4th, 6 for 5th, 4 for 6th, 2 for 7th, and 1 for 8th. Similar to the feature race, 2 points were awarded for the fastest lap if the driver finished in the top 10. No separate pole points were given for the sprint race, as qualifying determined only the feature grid.[8] In the event of tied points in the championships, ties were resolved by comparing the number of race wins; if still equal, the number of second-place finishes, then third places, and so on until a difference was found. This countback method ensured a clear ordering without further playoffs.[40] For the Teams' Championship, points were calculated by summing the points scored by both drivers in each team across all sessions, with no restrictions beyond the standard rule that only one car could occupy each finishing position per race. This aggregation rewarded consistent performances from both team members while reflecting the series' two-car format.[8]Drivers' Championship
The 2016 GP2 Series Drivers' Championship was decided in the final round at Abu Dhabi, where Pierre Gasly clinched the title with 219 points, becoming the last champion under the GP2 banner before its rebranding to FIA Formula 2.[8] Gasly's victory came despite teammate Antonio Giovinazzi securing more race wins, underscoring the tight battle within Prema Racing. Sergey Sirotkin rounded out the podium in third place, tying on points with Raffaele Marciello but prevailing via the championship countback rules.[8] The final top 10 standings, based on the series' scoring system of 25-18-15 points for the top three in feature races and 15-12-10 for sprint races (with additional points for pole position and fastest laps), are shown below.[2]| Pos | Driver | Points | Wins | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierre Gasly | 219 | 4 | 5 |
| 2 | Antonio Giovinazzi | 211 | 5 | 2 |
| 3 | Sergey Sirotkin | 159 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Raffaele Marciello | 159 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Norman Nato | 136 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Alex Lynn | 124 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | Jordan King | 122 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | Luca Ghiotto | 111 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Oliver Rowland | 107 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Artem Markelov | 97 | 1 | 0 |
Teams' Championship
The 2016 GP2 Series Teams' Championship was decided by aggregating points scored by each team's drivers across all 22 rounds, following the standard scoring system where the top eight finishers in each race earned points (25 for first, down to 4 for eighth, with additional points for pole position and fastest lap). Prema Powerteam dominated the standings, securing the title with 430 points from nine race wins, marking their debut season's remarkable success.[8] The full teams' standings are as follows:| Pos | Team | Points | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prema Powerteam | 430 | 9 |
| 2 | Racing Engineering | 258 | 4 |
| 3 | Russian Time | 256 | 1 |
| 4 | ART Grand Prix | 251 | 3 |
| 5 | DAMS | 147 | 3 |
| 6 | Campos Racing | 114 | 1 |
| 7 | MP Motorsport | 113 | 0 |
| 8 | Trident | 111 | 1 |
| 9 | Rapax | 107 | 0 |
| 10 | Carlin | 38 | 0 |
| 11 | Arden International | 12 | 0 |