Image: FORMULA 1
About This Quiz
Formula One is an elite motorsport that people all over the world follow closely. It's been in existence for decades, boasting the latest in technological developments and car designs. Even from its inception, F1 cars have gone faster, accelerated quicker, stopped in less time, and cornered with greater force than other race vehicles.
Many people consider F1 racing to be the definite motorsport. They claim the drivers must be of superior skill, versus drivers in NASCAR, rally racing, etc. This is a topic of great debate, but the numbers and statistics seem to back up this point of view. That being said, even a number of diehard F1 fans have become disenchanted by what they say is a lack of fierce competition in the sport for the last several years. Photo finishes, last-minute thrilling passes through turns, and other elements that used to make the races exciting to watch are pretty much a thing of the past.
Still, Formula One continues to look ahead, pushing the latest tech like hybrid powertrains and safety halos. Just how much do you know about what's going now on in the sport, as well as its rich history? Test your knowledge now by taking this quiz!
What's the sanctioning body for Formula One?
TIFA
UN
FIA
FIA, or the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, was formed in 1904 as a way to advocate for automotive organizations and drivers. At the time, cars weren't very common, so the mission of FIA eventually shifted more towards governing motorsports, including Formula One racing.
USA
What does the "formula" mean in Formula One racing?
it's a formula for success
it's a set of regulations
With F1 racing, teams must follow very specific rules about how a car can be built, otherwise they'll be disqualified from competition. The term "formula" is a fancy way of referring to these extensive regulations.
it's the formula of the fuel
it's a method for changing tires
What special thing do race organizers do with manhole covers for the Monaco Grand Prix?
take them off
weld them down
Technically speaking, F1 cars generate enough downforce that they could drive upside down. That's enough pressure to lift manhole covers right out of the road, so organizers at Monaco weld them down to prevent a serious accident.
paint them hot pink
replace them with unicorns
Advertisement
In what year was the first Formula One race held?
1950
Even though the idea for Formula One came about in the 1930s, WWII pushed it out of consideration. The first championship race was held at Silverstone, but the first race in F1 history took place about a month earlier in Pau.
1937
1955
1963
What does FIA require for F1 cars' undertrays?
it curves at 10 degrees
it's completely flat between the two axles
It wasn't always the case, but FIA now heavily regulates ground effect aero on cars. Among the regulations is this requirement for the undertray, which also must be a certain thickness.
it is wavy on the surface
it has a corrugated surface for resistance
How many Formula One championships has Michael Schumacher won?
15
seven
Schumacher still holds the record for the most F1 championships, having claimed that top spot as a driver in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
12
two
Advertisement
What kind of license must F1 drivers hold?
driver's license
NASCAR
commercial driver's license
Super License
Under FIA regulation, a driver who competes in Formula One events must hold a Super License, which is issued by FIA. That means not just any racer can just jump into F1 competitions.
Who is the only woman to have scored in a Formula One race?
Danica Patrick
Lella Lombardi
Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi, a female race car driver from Italy, was in the Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1974. She scored half a point in competition, a feat no other woman has duplicated.
Dolly Parton
Giovanna Amati
What maximum temperature can a driver's clothes endure?
200 degrees Celsius
840 degrees Celsius
Because a driver's overall is made of Nomex fiber, it's designed to withstand the intense heat that can come with a crash, which is about the temperature of a house fire. The overall and the helmet can deal with that temperature for 11 seconds.
300 degrees Celsius
500 degrees Celsius
Advertisement
What kinds of jacks can pit crews use?
manual only
For a competition that's so technologically advanced, it's interesting that only manual jacks can be used in the pits. A quick release mechanism helps shave precious milliseconds from the pit time.
pneumatic only
hydraulic only
any kind they like
What lighting element at the Monaco Grand Prix provides a unique challenge for drivers?
flashlights
tunnel
Many drivers agree that this circuit is one of the most challenging out there, thanks to the many tight corners, quick elevation changes, and the fact it's easy to be blinded when leaving the tunnel portion.
street lights
reflection off the bay
Who or what is the owner of F1?
Bernard Charles Ecclestone
NASCAR
Formula One Group
Sure, Formula One Group isn't really a creative name at all, but it gets across the point that the organization owns and manages Formula One races, etc. The group has a CEO, but he's not the owner of the organization.
Ferrari
Advertisement
For the 2017 season, which team won the constructor championship?
Lotus
Renault
Ferrari
Mercedes
With 668 points, Mercedes was able to soundly beat out Ferrari, which came in second place with 522 points. Competition among the ten teams is always intense.
What was the 1955 Le Mans Disaster?
a horrific crash
A crash during the endurance race sent Pierre Levegh's Mercedes car into the grandstand at the pit lane. A total of 82 people were killed, most decapitated by the impact. Many more were injured, making it the worst incident in F1 history.
a photo finish
multiple teams caught cheating
a pit crew member was hit by a car
How many turns at the Bahrain International Circuit are named?
one
Organizers of the Bahrain Gran Prix decided to name the first turn in the track after former driver Michael Schumacher, after he was in a skiing accident that left him in a coma.
two
three
seven
Advertisement
Who is the official tire supplier for Formula One?
Michelin
Pirelli
F1 regulations require all teams to use only tires supplied by Pirelli, which offers seven specifications of tires for dry conditions. Each type has a different color on the sidewall, and teams can only have access to three of them during each race, which they select in advance.
Bridgestone
Firestone
When did Formula One switch to hybrid engines?
1997
2014
When Formula One switched to hybrid engines, it was quite the controversy. Some loudly declared it would be the end of the sport, while others heralded the shift as a sign of how vehicle tech is changing.
2001
2017
What was the most crowded Formula One race to date?
1957 Le Mans
1988 Silverstone Grand Prix
1953 German Grand Prix
With 34 cars lined up at the beginning, no F1 race before or since has been nearly as crowded. The race was held at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife, so at least there was room for the cars to spread out.
1998 Talladega Nights
Advertisement
What important geographical first did the first Formula One championship race mark?
first competition with a woman driver
first dirt track race
first race outside of France or Italy
Up until this championship race, which took place at Silverstone in the U.K., all F1 races had been in Italy or France. Plenty of other oddities were involved, like a Swiss baron and Thai prince checking in as drivers.
first race with Ferraris
If a driver leaves a car during a race for any reason, what must he do before entering it again?
bow to the pit crew
be weighed
Weight is a big deal in Formula One, because the drivers and cars are subjected to stringent weight requirements. After a race, the classified finishers are weighed again, just to be on the safe side.
say please
have a drink of Gatorade
What was the predecessor to Formula One?
Silverstone Racing Organization
LeMons Racing
European Grand Prix
Arguably, there are a few racing series that could be considered "predecessors" to F1, although most agree the European Grand Prix was the most like it. It was active in the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s, but WWII put an end to competition.
Super Kart
Advertisement
In what country is the Marina Bay Street Circuit located?
Singapore
This circuit literally travels on the streets around the Marina Bay. Among the unique elements are almost 1,500 light projectors for nighttime racing conditions. The circuit is a little over three miles long.
China
Belgium
Saudi Arabia
Which was the first team to use an aluminum monocoque chassis in Formula One competition?
BMW
Lotus
In 1962, Lotus created the 25, a revolutionary racecar that had a monocoque chassis made of folded sheets of aluminum. The design was exceptionally strong and lightweight, allowing Jim Clark to rack up 14 wins from behind the wheel.
Ferrari
Ford
When was turbocharging first introduced into Formula One?
1989
1982
1977
Renault decided that forced induction was the way to get an edge in competition, although the tech resulted in many problems. Honda and Porsche helped McLaren perfect the design, which led to many victories for the McLaren team.
1992
Advertisement
What role did Bernie Ecclestone have in Formula One?
McLaren marketing executive
Formula One Group board secretary
CEO of Formula One Group
Ecclestone is a wealthy British businessman who was able to climb to the top management position in the Formula One Group. His tenure saw many controversies, which increasingly focused on his personal and business integrity
janitor
Which circuit is the shortest in Formula One?
Silverstone
Nurburgring
Monaco
At just over two miles or 3,337 km, the Monaco Grand Prix has the shortest lap in all of F1. Drivers must go around all those tight turns and deal with the sudden elevation climbs and drops 78 grueling times.
Seabring
How many races are scheduled for the 2018 Formula One season?
five
37
21
The first race of the season was the Australian Grand Prix on March 25. The other locations are spread around the globe, including a race at the Circuit of Americas on October 21. The final race is set for Abu Dhabi on November 25.
12
Advertisement
What team landed the first sponsorship in Formula One?
Ferrari
Renault
McLaren
Lotus
In 1968 Lotus found a creative way to fund the expense of racing in Formula One. It sold advertising space on its cars to Imperial Tobacco, a move other teams copied to help with their finances.
Which of the following isn't a driving aid banned in Formula One in 2008?
automatic lane centering
To keep the competition exciting and force drivers to rely more on their skill, FIA decided to ban traction control, electronic engine braking, and variable differential locking for the 2008 season, joining a growing list of banned technologies.
traction control
electronic engine braking
variable differential locking
Which of the following isn't a current Formula One engine supplier?
Honda
Renault
Chevrolet
Even though Formula One is a global sport, Americans don't participate in it much, although Haas is from America. Most engine suppliers are from Europe, with Honda being an outlier.
Ferrari
Advertisement
How many championships are there each season?
one
two
Each year, Formula One holds a championship for drivers, as well as a separate one for constructors. It's a way for both groups to shine in their unique ways.
five
it depends
When was the first Constructors' Championship held?
1947
1951
1958
Vanwall from the U.K. won the first Constructors' Championship with drivers Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks. Cooper, another British constructor, won the following two years, before Ferrari grabbed the championship in 1961.
1955
Who is the current Formula One Group CEO?
Ronald Beagan
Chris Brown
Jim Carrey
Chase Carey
Chase Carey assumed the role in 2017 when embattled CEO Bernie Ecclestone left the position. He is an Irish-American, which Formula One likes to tout since it's an international organization.
Advertisement
Who was the champion driver for the 2017 season?
Sebastian Vettel
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, a driver from the U.K. who was driving for Mercedes, took the top spot by a commanding amount. So far, he has claimed four championships, and many believe he might pass Schumacher's record.
Mario Andretti
Victor VonSpedi
What was the location of the first Formula One championship race?
Spa-Francorchamps
Monza
Silverstone
Silverstone hosted this momentous occasion, where Nino Farina, a driver from Turin, Italy, claimed victory. Known for his brash, reckless driving style, he excelled past other drivers who had more raw talent. That character trait might have contributed to his death in a car crash in 1966.
Talladega
You Got:
/35
FORMULA 1