F1 | The end-of-year report card: here are the votes for all the protagonists of 2016

They made us have fun, sometimes bored, sometimes angry. While waiting to experience an uncertain 2017, thanks to the ongoing regulatory revolution, let's try to give votes and opinions to the eleven protagonist teams of 2016 and the drivers who took to the track. The highest vote, the only ten on the report card, goes to Nico Rosberg, the "human" champion of an F1 that is often indecipherable and too distant from fans. With the hope that the new investors of Liberty Media can revive the fortunes of a beloved sport, which needs to be revitalized and simplified in some way. Starting from the decisions of the race commissioners, who are often extremely severe, intrusive and lack uniformity of judgement.

MERCEDES 9,5 

Perfection…or almost. Boredom, definitely. Nineteen victories out of twenty-one races are an unprecedented haul, exhilarating for Brackley-Stuttgart, soporific for fans. The third year is the seal on a dictatorship that has completely grayed F1. Half a point less for a few too many reliability problems on Hamilton's car, whispering in a low voice that however certain problems were a godsend for that bit of spectacle given by the fratricidal derby. Then win with a German driver? A great satisfaction.

Nico Rossberg 10 He takes the most coveted laurel against all odds, climbing a mountain that takes on the appearance of a champion teammate. It's the tale of the midfielder who, by dint of recovering balls, wins the World Cup. He put in self-sacrifice, application, he worked a lifetime to reach a level that drained him to the core, consuming him with a smile, but giving him the determination and coldness typical of champions. Deserved medal, and the early discharge should at least be forgiven.

Lewis Hamilton 9 Beaten without appeal in a season in which he suffered, fought, won and lost. In the first races he was at the mercy of a capricious car, then little by little he confirmed himself as the usual cannibal, trying until the end. In every way, holding on to whatever, calling for non-existent reinforcements in the insignificant curves of Abu Dhabi. He still has victories, ten of them, talent, class, ferocity, accompanied however by the feeling of being suddenly vulnerable, alone against the world, extremely prone to controversy (and "politics", he, Rosberg's mechanics and the famous book). He won his eleventh victory with still bowls, placing himself between Brackley and Alonso. The scratch of the wounded tiger.

RED BULL 8,5

One word: resilience. The chameleon-like ability to adapt to difficulties, to get out of them, to become scary again although (still) from afar. The Milton Keynes threat appears on the horizon, the return of Newey's creativity, the aggressiveness of a strong team on and off the track, which is not afraid to dare (and be right), even with unpopular choices. The two victories were a mortgage on a winning future again, with the new regulation fitting perfectly.

Daniel Ricciardo 9 The world podium, the victory in Malaysia, the innate maturity and friendliness of a driver who has confirmed himself to be both consistent and spectacular, rock-solid in his efficiency, a tightrope walker when he goes into action. Great character, with a smile that's just a little tighter than usual because of his boxing partner. That's starting to give you some concern.

Max Verstappen 9 Arrogant, irritable, hateful in certain spoiled child attitudes. But also very fast, spectacular, determined. Mad Max was a crazy variable that in one way or another livened up boring days, in the F1 trains he was the rebel carriage ready to go off the tracks. So incorrect and irreverent as to make one think it was constructed on the spot. But it goes without saying that he is a beauty, and it is no coincidence that the far-sighted drinkers got to him before anyone else.

Ferrari 5

The pallor of a faded red that is touching for how fragile it has proven to be. From dreams of glory we went in just a few races to fifth places in succession, with a team at the mercy of events, incapable of developing a delicate and capricious single-seater. A failure across the board, made even more bitter by the zero in the box under victories. Landing without knowing how to react, the worst nightmare for a legend in trouble.

Sebastian Vettel 6,5 More intermittent than Christmas lights, unmotivated as rarely seen in his career. Talent in flashes, interspersed with anonymous competitions, with a growing nervousness and not in line with the character. The feeling is that he performed less than was in his noble range. Seb didn't expect to have to be captain of fortune of yet another troubled Ferrari. But, once caught off guard by events, he had to react more decisively.

Kimi Raikkonen 7 It would probably be ungenerous to ask more from this now elderly champion who still fights with a knife between his teeth. In the difficulty of a highly disappointing season, Kimi never loses his bearings, finds his dimension and supports it, with some good races and solid points placings. More serene than Vettel, but facilitated by his role as "second" driver. The best thing is that he never takes his foot off in tackles. In Maranello he is now considered one of the family.

FORCE INDIA 8

The highest point for a team that year after year has demonstrated its ability to grow technically, despite some economic difficulties on the horizon. With the courage to always launch young and talented drivers.

Sergio Perez 7,5 He doesn't have to prove anything anymore and deserves a top team. His results, his consistency and his solid driving say it all. Checo is one of the best of the lot, and the excesses of past years are a distant memory. For now he is the podium man of the Anglo-Indian team. A small record.

Nico Hulkenberg 6,5 Good, but once again incapable of placing that high note that would justify the great esteem he enjoys among enthusiasts and professionals. It seems like he's always a penny away from making a penny, meanwhile the podium watches him from afar. Renault is the last call to understand what it's made of.

WILLIAMS 5,5

From third to fifth in the Constructors' standings, it disappeared into the depths of the large group, lost and without too many ambitions. The image of a decadent team, which hopes to find new life in the resources arrived with Stroll to get back on its feet.

Valtteri Bottas 6 The Anonymous of the Sublime. The one who, without doing anything special, manages to transform great professionalism and consistency of performance into a golden seat. Pirandellian, in his being a not very lively but very useful soldier.

Philip Massa 5 The highest moment of the season is the San Paolo retreat, with the emotional and heartfelt greeting to the cheering and the hugs in the pit lane. A scene as beautiful as it is vain, given that the Paulista elf is ready to get back behind the wheel, hastily called back to serve his homeland Grove. But does Felipe still have something to give to F1?

MCLAREN 6

Whatever anyone says, despite having more or less the same sponsors as the Death Star from Star Wars, despite having said goodbye to a living institution like Ron Dennis, McLaren improved in 2016, managing to move from the back rows to the points zone. Not much for such a renowned team, but the Honda project continues and...at least it's a project!

Fernando Alonso 8 Fifth in Monte Carlo, fifth in Texas, often in the points with the usual stubborn races, peppered here and there with spectacular comebacks and overtaking (Austin above all). The usual lion, never tamed, with the talent and ability to give his all indifferently in first or tenth position. A warrior, who ten years later still scares those who string together victories in succession, yet he says "no thanks" to the possibility of a direct challenge dreamed of by everyone.

Jenson Button 6 In the year in which he decided to give it up to this all-encompassing Formula 1, after almost twenty years of honest militancy, he seemed to lose a few shots in the final stages. Professional to the end, but without making fire and flames.

Stoffel Vandoorne 7 Only one race run, in Bahrain, and a points finish. The perfect business card for a very worthy 2017.

RED BULL 6

It doesn't cause disasters, but finds some good eighth places here and there, wisely guided by the talent of Sainz. He must be granted the extenuating circumstance of racing with a power unit that is too old, in an F1 that is evolving too quickly.

Carlos Sainz 7,5 The boy is really strong. He resists Verstappen's promotion, coming out with his head held high, taking Toro Rosso by the hand and accompanying it to highly respectable positions. It's no coincidence that half the grid likes it, but Horner and Marko are holding on to it for now.

Daniel Kvyat 6 Vote of esteem, after all one of Red Bull's podiums bears his signature at the bottom. It must not have been easy to suffer a real relegation, ending up in the lower division after reaching Olympus. He chases the attributes in Singapore, with a bad race, which probably earns him reconfirmation.

HAAS 8

Super freshman created from nothing by Gene Haas, he arrives in F1 and scores a sixth and fifth place. He deserves respect and consideration for this alone. The subsequent difficulties are part of the game, but the impact was one to remember.

Romain Grosjean 7 Now a "class" driver. Mature, experienced, concrete. He dreamed of moving to Ferrari, but he will instead have to push his way back to Haas for another year.

Esteban Gutierrez 5 He had the great opportunity to relaunch his F1 career after a year as a Ferrari test driver. He ended up arguing with the team on worldwide television. Bad.

RENAULT 4,5

A big disappointment. Terribly slow car, something more was expected from an official team, also because in Enstone they know how to design the cars for better or worse. A “traumatic” return.

Kevin Magnussen5,5 He deserves credit for finishing seventh in Sochi, but his season is far from extraordinary. The feeling is that the spark never struck between him and Renault.

Jolyon Palmer 5 For half the season he gives the impression of being one of the many drivers with a suitcase and nothing more, alternating anonymous races with dramatic errors. In the second half of the year he improved significantly, putting together some convincing performances and scoring the first point of his career in Malaysia. Reconfirmed surprisingly.

SAUBER 4

Over the years, we have not remembered a Sauber in such difficulty. For long stretches it was a Cinderella of the grid, saved by new investors and by Nasr's great result in Brazil. Too little for a now "historic" team. How long is Peter Sauber missing from the wall...

Felipe Nasr 6 Hero for a day, hero by chance, hero in the wet. The ninth place in his native Brazil is a victory, it is a revenge, it is the GP that saves Sauber's season, but also his, rather disappointing one.

Marcus Ericsson 5 More competitive and faster than Nasr for a good part of the season, he fails at the best moment, and in the end ends up sadly behind, in a sweet oblivion with the flavor of reconfirmation.

MANOR 4

Rarely have we seen a car so uncompetitive in recent years despite the Mercedes engine and a good driver like Wehrlein.

Pascal Wehrlein 6,5 We don't know him personally, but he must be very unpleasant if Mercedes doesn't want to promote him to the first team, if Williams snubbed him and Force India preferred Ocon over him. In the meantime he brings the Manor to points, a "feat" achieved only by the unforgettable Jules Bianchi.

Rio Haryanto 5 The Indonesian moves into F1 without firing a shot, without disturbing the public peace, without infamy and - obviously - without praise.

Esteban Ocon 6 Almost unjudgeable, but he arrives, does a few races and gets a seat that's not bad like that of Force India. Beautiful there!

Antonino Rendina

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