Sport

Ranking the dazzling and lacklustre 2016 Formula One teams

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg celebrates winning the Formula One world championship after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit<br />Picture by AP&nbsp;
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg celebrates winning the Formula One world championship after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit
Picture by AP 
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg celebrates winning the Formula One world championship after Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit
Picture by AP 

Formula One heads for its traditional winter hibernation following an eventful championship-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But which team finished top of the class?

And who will be ruing a poor campaign?

Here Press Association Sport runs the rule over the class of 2016.

MERCEDES

Another impressive season for Formula One's all-conquering team after they secured both the driver and constructor titles for a third consecutive year.

With 19 wins and 20 pole positions from 21 grands prix, the sport has never seen dominance quite like it. Lewis Hamilton's reliability woes, which thwarted his championship defence, stops them from taking full marks.

Rating (out of 10): 9

FERRARI

A truly disappointing campaign for the Italian marque. Billed as the team to end Mercedes' dominance, but ended the season a distant third in the championship.

Should have won races in Australia and Canada - only for poor strategy calls to wreck their chances - while Sebastian Vettel, their big-money signing who was victorious at three grands prix last year, now faces an uncertain future with the team.

Rating: 5

RED BULL

The only other team to win a race this season with Max Verstappen taking the chequered flag on his Red Bull debut in Spain, and Daniel Ricciardo benefiting from Hamilton's engine failure in Malaysia.

Boasting arguably the most exciting driver line-up on the grid, Red Bull are tipped to run Mercedes close in 2017.

Rating: 8

WILLIAMS

A difficult campaign for Williams who fell behind Force India in the championship pecking order, with their only real highlight coming in Canada where Valtteri Bottas finished third.

Failed in their bid to sign Jenson Button with Lance Stroll, the son of a Canadian billionaire, replacing the retiring Felipe Massa for 2017.

Rating: 6

FORCE INDIA

Despite possessing one of the smallest budgets in the pit lane,

Formula One's perennial over-achievers, ended the season behind only Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, to finish fourth overall.

Their best-ever result. Bravo.

Rating: 9

McLAREN

Signs of improvement following last year's embarrassing campaign, but the once-mighty British team remain a long way behind the front-runners. Jenson Button, who will not be racing next year, managed a paltry 21 points.

While Fernando Alonso (54 points) fared better, he was still only 10th in the championship.

Grade: 3

TORO ROSSO

Seventh in the standings for a third straight year.

Carlos Sainz cemented his status as one of the best up-and-coming drivers on the grid, while Daniil Kvyat overcame a difficult start to his tenure back at Toro Rosso - following his demotion from Red Bull - to earn another year with the team.

Grade: 7

RENAULT

The French manufacturer, making their return to the grid for the first time in more than a decade, have endured a disappointing comeback with only a handful of points-scoring finishes. Jolyon Palmer, the British rookie who improved as the season wore on, will again race for Renault in 2017.

He will be joined by Nico Hulkenberg who is leaving Force India.

Grade: 4

SAUBER

Finished above Manor courtesy only of Felipe Nasr crossing the line ninth at the penultimate round in Brazil.

A recent takeover deal, which saved them from the brink of collapse, is expected to bolster their chances for next season.

Grade: 4

MANOR

Using Mercedes engines for the first time, Manor packed a greater punch in 2016, and recorded one solitary point after Pascal Wehrlein finished 10th in Austria.

Grade: 5

HAAS

The American team became the first constructor to score points on their debut since Toyota in 2002 after Romain Grosjean finished fifth in Australia. But they then flattered to deceive before blending into the background.

Grade: 5