The 2016 Formula One season is the 67th season of the FIA Formula One World Championship, a motor racing championship for Formula One cars which is recognised by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), as the highest class of competition for open-wheel racing cars. Teams and drivers are scheduled to take part in twenty-one Grands Prix—making for the longest season in the sport's history—starting in Australia on 20 March and finishing in Abu Dhabi on 27 November as they compete for theWorld Drivers' and World Constructors' championships.[1]

The 2016 season will see the grid expand to twenty-two cars with the addition of the Haas F1 Team entry.[2] Renault returned to the sport as a constructor after a four-year absence following their takeover of Lotus prior to the start of the season.[3] The calendar has similarly expanded, with the return of the German Grand Prix. The European Grand Prix will also be revived, with the event visiting a new circuit in Azerbaijan.[1]

Lewis Hamilton will start the season as the defending Drivers' Champion for the second year running, after winning his third World Championship title at the 2015 United States Grand Prix.[4] His team, Mercedes, will start the season as the defending Constructors' Champion, having secured its second championship title at the 2015