Brazil's Formula 1 Drivers Advent Calendar [5] Quiz

Answer:

More than 25 Brazilian drivers have participated in the Formula 1 Championship since its inception in 1950, including the ten we have included here.

Born in Sao Paulo in 1946, Emerson Fittipaldi raced in F1 from 1970 until 1980, becoming its (then) youngest champion in 1972 at age 25 and Brazil's first F1 driving champion. This first championship was with Lotus, whilst his second, in 1974, came after a move to McLaren. After some unsuccessful years with brother Wilson's Fittipaldi Automotive team, Emo moved to the CART series in North America, winning its title in 1989. His brother (Wilson), nephew (Christian) and grandson (Pietro) have all competed to varying degrees in Formula 1.

The next world champion driver from Brazil was Nelson Piquet, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1952. His career spanned 1978 to 1991, and he won the championship in 1981 and 1983 driving for Brabham, and in 1987 with Williams Honda. His son, Nelson Jr., had a brief F1 career in the early 21st century.

Next to become champion for Brazil was the late great Ayrton Senna, who was born in Sao Paulo in 1960. His three world driving championships, in 1988, 1990 and 1991 all came with McLaren. He moved to Williams for the 1994 season, but on the first of May of that year suffered fatal injuries during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in Italy. He was given a state funeral that was televised extensively (I watched it in Spain). Safety improvements made after his accident greatly improved the chances of a driver surviving such an incident.

Another Sao Paulo native, Rubens Barrichello was born there in 1972, and began his F1 career in 1993. Between then and his retirement in 2011, he won eleven races and finished second in the championship in 2002 and 2004, both times with Ferrari. He also finished third twice, once with Ferrari (2001) and once with Brawn (2009). Rubinho went on to compete in the IndyCar series in 2012, and thereafter for several seasons in the Stock Car Brasil championship.

Like several other Brazilian drivers, Felipe Massa was born in Sao Paulo (in 1981). He won eleven races between 2002 and 2017, and came within a whisker of being champion in his Ferrari in 2008, losing by a single point to Englishman Lewis Hamilton at the final race of the season, in Brazil, despite winning the race.

(Jose) Carlos Pace (1944-1977) was born in Sao Paulo, and won only one Formula 1 race in his career, which spanned the years 1972-1977. His best championship finish was sixth, in 1975 driving for Martini Racing, in a Brabham. His single victory came at the Interlagos track near Sao Paulo in 1975. After his death in a light aircraft crash in 1977, the circuit was renamed Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in his honour.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1959, Roberto Moreno earned his nickname of "Super Sub" honestly, given that his sporadic appearances in F1 between 1982 and 1995 were usually as a substitute driver for an injured colleague. He had the same reputation in his CART/Champ car days. In F1 his only podium finish was in the 1990 Japanese GP, when he finished second whilst subbing for Benetton's Alessandro Nannini, who had been badly hurt in a helicopter crash.

Mauricio Gugelmin was born in Joinville, in the Southern Region of Brazil, in 1963. His only podium finish was a third place in Brazil in 1989, driving a March-Judd. He drove for a number of different teams during his career which began in 1988 and ended in 1992. He moved to the Champ Car series in 1993 and had modest success, retiring in 2001.

Christian Fittipaldi was born in Sao Paulo in 1971, and is the son of Wilson Fittipaldi and nephew of Emerson Fittipaldi. Christian followed them into F1 in 1992, driving for smaller teams (Minardi and Footwork) and moving on to compete in CART after the 1994 season. His career there was dogged by injury, but he managed a couple of wins, before moving on to other pursuits in 2002.

Cristiano da Matta was born in Belo Horizonte in 1973, and he moved in the opposite direction to many drivers, winning the CART championship in 2002 with Newman/Haas, before moving to Formula 1 in 2003. His best race finish was sixth, accomplished twice in 2003 and once in 2004, driving for Toyota. He returned to the US and the CART/Champ series the next season.


The incorrect choices are all Brazilian, but from different sports. Dani Alves and Taffarel are football (soccer) players. Dias and Silvano Alves compete in rodeo, particularly bull riding. The father and son duo of Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa are accomplished show jumping riders.