Hey!
We thought that we'd describe our top 5 races of the 2016 season! There were so many highlights, as it was an amazing season, but we managed to make a top 5!
Number 5 - German GP
To start off our list, we have the German Grand Prix, which was the final Grand Prix before the summer break. It wasn't a crazy eventful one like Brazil (more about that later), but it was a very interesting one.
Even though Nico Rosberg started out on pole position, he didn't manage to keep that place for long as he had a slow start. Lewis Hamilton, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen all passed him. He was able to stay in front of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen, making him 4th.
Throughout the following laps, Nico fought to overtake Max, eventually doing so on lap 30. This did earn him an 5 second penalty as he pushed Max off the track. After serving his penalty during his pit stop on lap 44, Nico wasn't able to overtake Max again, which meant he ended as 4th.
Lewis stayed in first place throughout the entire race, making it a rather easy win for him. Daniel ended up finishing 2nd, after overtaking Max on the 40th lap. Max ended as 3rd, making it his 4th podium finish of the season and his Formula 1 career.
Number 4 - Abu Dhabi GP
The last race of the season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was in our opinion an amazing one! It was the race where we would find out who would win the Championship. Nico Rosberg or Lewis Hamilton.
In order for Nico to become World Champion, he had to finish on the podium, no matter what Lewis did. Lewis had to win and Nico had to be 4th or lower for Lewis to be World Champion.
At the start of the race, Max Verstappen spun after a minor collision with Nico Hulkenberg. Verstappen had to come back from place 22, which he did amazingly. He showed some amazing overtakes, once again, coming back to a second place, before his first pitstop, which was his only one in the race.
Ferrari, who finally had a good strategy, fought their way to a decent 3rd place, finishing on the podium. Sebastian Vettel, who overtook both Red Bull's to get there, had an amazing race. He even challenged the Mercedes, who were 1 and 2.
In the last few laps of the race, Hamilton was first, Nico second and Vettel third, with Verstappen close behind in fourth. Hamilton tried to back Rosberg up into the Ferrari and Red Bull, without success, because when the chequered flag was there, Hamilton finished in first, but Rosberg in second. That meant only one thing: Nico Rosberg was World Champion. In our opinion, an exciting race to finish the season with.
Number 3 - Malaysian GP
For me, Malaysia was one of my favorite races this season. Lots happened during the race, making it one that you couldn't miss.
It all started with the start, when Vettel hit Rosberg, making Rosberg spin and Vettel retire. Rosberg had to fight his way back to the front, while his team mate Hamilton was in the lead, with the two Red Bull's behind him.
At one point in the race, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were fighting for a then second position, with Ricciardo winning that fight. It was great to watch, seeing them fighting each other, but giving each other enough room to do so. It showed how well their bond is.
Later on in the race, Lewis Hamilton had an engine failure, that being an engine that blew up. It caused him a win and possibly the Championship. He had to retire, meaning that everyone would move up a position.
And with Rosberg fighting his way through the drivers, that meant only one thing. Mercedes would not win a race. It was a Red Bull 1-2 finish, with Daniel Ricciardo winning and Max Verstappen in second place. It was the second time Red Bull took the win when Mercedes wouldn't.
It was an exciting race, especially the start and end of the race. But the real highlight had to be the podium, when not only Ricciardo did a shoey, but Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg, who came in 3rd, all did the shoey as well.
Number 2 - Brazil GP
The Brazil GP was one to remember. It took about 4 hours, had 2 red flags and 5 safety cars. Romain Grosjean never made it to the grid, as he crashed because of the heavy rain.
The start was 10 minutes delayed, mainly because of the rain and Grosjean's crash. It was also then announced that they would start behind the safety car.
After a lot of laps behind the safety car, they were finally let go to race. Max Verstappen decided to immediately overtake Kimi Raikkonen, for a 3rd position. Some drivers changed to Intermediates, but most stayed on the Full Wets. After some laps, Marcus Ericsson crashed, his car stopping right in front of the Pitlane. It was at the same moment Verstappen wanted to pit for Intermediates. He was allowed in, but his team mate, Daniel Ricciardo, got a 5-second time penalty for entering the pitlane when it was closed.
After the Safety Car was gone again, Kimi Raikkonen crashed right away, making the Safety Car come out again. After a couple of laps, they decided to Red Flag the race, because of the car pieces on the track. Cars had to switch back to Full Wets. They went out after a while behind the Safety Car, only to get another Red Flag.
After they got behind another Safety Car, they were allowed to race again. Right after the Safety Car went in, Max Verstappen made did an amazing overtake on Nico Rosberg, going round the outside. It was later voted the best overtake of 2016.
A couple of laps later, Verstappen was chasing Hamilton, who was in first position. When Verstappen got onto the long straight, he lost car control for a second, having his car lock all 4 wheels, going into a 90 degree angle. He was able to hold his car away from the barrier and kept second position.
Later on, Nico Rosberg had a moment as well, almost losing his car, but luckily, nothing happened. A couple of laps later, Verstappen pitted for Intermediates, taking a huge gamble.
Massa crashed later on, making another Safety Car come out. Behind the Safety Car, both Ricciardo and Verstappen felt not safe and changed back to Full Wets, Ricciardo getting back to P11 and Verstappen to P16.
But then the real show started. Verstappen made his way through the field, overtaking everyone in his way. Bottas was his first victim, for P11. He then charged and overtook his teammate Ricciardo for P10. Right after Ricciardo, it was Kvyat for P9. Ocon and Nasr were overtaken for P8 and P7. Later on, he found Hulkenberg and easily overtook him for P6.
But then came Vettel, who didn't let go as easily. He tried to hold off Verstappen, but Verstappen was way quicker and also got passed Vettel for P5. He found his old team mate not even a lap later, for P4. And then what seemed impossible in lap 60, Verstappen fought Perez for P3. He almost lost the car, but overtook him anyway, finishing his race on the podium.
After the race, people started comparing him to Senna, he was crowned Rain Master.
Lewis Hamilton won the race, making it his first win in Brazil, Nico Rosberg came in second. The Championship would be decided in Abu Dhabi.
Number 1 - Spanish GP
This one might be based on the fact that Max Verstappen is my favorite driver, but that doesn't take away the amazing race.
Let's start with the start, when after 3 turns, both Mercedes' crashed into each other. That caused the entire race to change. Someone else, other than Nico Rosberg or Lewis Hamilton, had the chance to win a Grand Prix. At the moment of the crash, Daniel Ricciardo lead the pack, Max Verstappen, who was driving his first race for Red Bull Racing, was behind him and Sainz in 3rd.
When the Safety Car went away, both Ferrari's chased Carlos Sainz, needing to get past him in order to have a chance to win the race.
Daniel Ricciardo lead the race until his first Pitstop, causing Max Verstappen to lead half a lap, as he went into pit right after Ricciardo.
After the second pitstop, it was clear that both Red Bull and Ferrari were changing strategy's, putting 1 of their drivers on a 2-stop and 1 on a 3-stop. Everyone thought that a 3-stop would be the fastest strategy, but they got proven wrong.
Max Verstappen was leading the race, making him the Youngest Driver to lead a lap in a Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen was right behind him, within DRS length. Both drivers were on a 2-stop strategy, while Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were on a 3-stop.
During the last 16 laps of the race, Verstappen hold Raikkonen behind him, driving an amazing race, making zero mistakes. He nursed his tires amazingly, being able to hold Raikkonen behind him when he didn't have much experience.
Behind them, Sebastian Vettel was able to stay in front of Ricciardo, who got a puncture in the last lap. He was still able to finish 4th, while Vettel finished in 3rd.
Max Verstappen won the race, his first race for Red Bull. He broke another 2 records after crossing the finish line, being Youngest Driver to Finish on the Podium and Youngest Driver to Win a Grand Prix.
It was an amazing race, with an amazing winner and an amazing debut.
Alright these were our favorite moments, what were yours? Let us know in the comments!
Love
Pascalle & Evy
