The top 10 Formula 3 drivers of 2016
The 2016 Formula 3 European Championship was brimming with talent, including a champion heading directly to Formula 1. But who else stood out as young drivers to watch?
Grids were down in the Formula 3 European Championship in 2016, but there was superb depth among the field that did compete, as evidenced by the fact that 11 different drivers won races in a series that does not rely on the artificiality of reversed grids.
Williams Formula 1 bound Lance Stroll did the business with Prema Powerteam, recovering from an uncertain start to take a resounding title with four races to spare - all of which he won with the pressure off.
Share Or Save This Story
Marcus Simmons is the Deputy Editor of Autosport magazine. As a child he was a regular on the chalk banks of Thruxton – hence his unhealthy obsession with 1970s Formula 2 and F3 – before he became an MSA timekeeper at the age of 17. At 19, his reporting debut for Motoring News arguably overshadowed Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal as the sporting moment of June 1986, and he joined the staff in 1990 after graduating from his degree course in Plymouth. A parallel Formula First career – which was as incident-packed as his childhood exploits in show-jumping and hunter trials – finished when he wrote off his car and put himself in hospital in 1991.
Marcus moved to Autosport in the summer of 1996. Since then he has had two stints as a freelancer and a brief spell as editor of Motor Sport magazine, during which the revered green cover was revived, before he rejoined Autosport in 2008. He lives in Teddington with his wife (who, gratifyingly, grew up within earshot of Castle Combe), daughter, stepson, dog, cat and guitars, and additionally has an adult daughter and stepson.
More from Marcus Simmons
Sutton tops final BTCC pre-season test
Wheldon Jr hailed as big talent by team boss after winning debut
How Ingram is seeking to reclaim the BTCC crown from Sutton
Excelr8 driver Pearson beats big guns in latest BTCC test at Croft
The tin-top world champion seeking to tick a "missing box" in the BTCC
Thompson stakes claim for full-time BTCC seat with first BMW test
Hill tops first official BTCC test
Thompson gets BTCC WSR BMW test at Brands
Latest news
Audi a player, not a spectator, in F1 driver market - Sauber
Mercedes joins Williams and RB with 'quick and cheap' F1 cockpit airflow upgrades
Alpine gets F1 spare car for first time in 2024 as lighter chassis appears in China
F1 Chinese GP: Stroll leads FP1 as small fire causes early red flag
Autosport Plus
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Why F1's junior logjam isn't entirely a product of current issues
Ranking the top 10 drivers on F1's undercard in 2023
Ranking the 10 best drivers from F1's junior series in 2022
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.