 Its design carried over many technological features of the first Lotus single-seater, the Lotus 12, as well as incorporating ideas which Chapman had been developing while working on the Vanwall racing cars.Indeed, such was the visual similarity between the Vanwall and Lotus 16 designs that the Lotus was often dubbed the ""mini Vanwall"" by the contemporary motor sport press.Although the Lotus 16 only scored five Formula One World Championship points in the three seasons during which it was used, its raw pace pointed the way for its more successful successors, the Lotus 18 and 21.