2023 Bahrain Grand Prix Trivia Quiz

Answer: Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium in 1997 and he has Dutch citizenship as well through his father, Jos, who was also a racecar driver. Verstappen debuted in Formula One at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix setting a record as the youngest Formula One driver at just 17 years, 166 days old. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Verstappen was the Formula One World Champion.

Answer: McLaren

McLaren Racing Limited was founded in 1963 by Bruce McLaren who was from New Zealand. The McLaren team won its first F1 race in 1968 at the Belgian Grand Prix and through the 2022 season McLaren had won eight Constructors' Championships and 12 Drivers' Championships. However, McLaren struggled in the early 2020s as the team won just won race from 2020 to 2022.

The first race of the 2023 Formula One season in Bahrain was a disappointing one for McLaren. Lando Norris finished in 17th place and had to make an excessive amount of pit stops due to car issues and he was a full two laps behind the leader. Oscar Piastri's race was even worse as he had to retire on Lap 14 due to electrical issues.

Answer: Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon was born in Évreux, France in 1996 and he made his Formula One debut at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix. Ocon's first win in Formula One was at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. At the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, Ocon received a five second penalty for being too far forward in the grid box at the start of the race, a 10 second penalty for not serving his five second penalty correctly and finally a five second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. All of the penalties added up to Ocon being at the back of the pack and then to make matters worse his car had mechanical issues forcing him to retire on Lap 42.

Answer: Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly was born in Rouen, France in 1996 and he had his Formula One race debut at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. His first win was at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. At the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, Gasly finished 20th in the first qualifying round putting him at the back of the starting grid.

However, Gasly had a solid race and was able to make up 11 positions and his ninth place finish granted him two points toward the season rankings.

Answer: Sergio Perez

Most of the drivers including the polesitter, Max Verstappen, took a pit stop on Lap 15 to switch tires. However, Sergio Perez was able to go an additional three laps on his starting tires and overtake Verstappen for the lead until his own pit stop on Lap 18.

Answer: Charles Leclerc

Fitting for a Formula One racer, Charles Leclerc was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in 1997. Leclerc debuted in Formula One at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix and his first win was at the 2019 Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc's engine failure at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix was especially disappointing considering that he was the winner of the race in 2022.

Answer: Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso was born in Oviedo, Spain in 1981 and he made his Formula One debut in 2001. Alonso started his career with Minardi but his greatest success was with Renault where he would win the World Championship in 2005 and 2006. Fernando Alonso joined Aston Martin in 2023 and immediately had a podium finish in the first race of the season in Bahrain.

Answer: Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll was born in Montreal, Canada in 1998 and he debuted in Formula One at the 2017 Australian Grand Prix. Stroll was unable to participate in the preseason testing for the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix due to a cycling accident that prompted him to have to surgery and change his grip while racing. Even so, Stroll came in 6th at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix which earned him eight points toward the season standings.

Answer: Zhou Guanyu

Zhou Guanyu was born in Shanghai in 1999 and he made his Formula One debut at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix with Alfa Romeo. At the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix, Zhou Guanyu started 13th and finished in 16th place. Zhou Guanyu had a blistering Lap 56 earning the fastest lap of the race. If he had finished in the top 10, Zhou Guanyu would have received a point for the fastest lap of the race but since he finished in 16th the fastest lap effectively was just for bragging rights.

Answer: Red Bull

The Red Bull Racing team debuted in Formula One in 2005 and through the 2022 season the team had won five Constructors' Championships and six Drivers' Championships. Red Bull was far and away the best team at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix with its drivers finishing nearly 30 seconds ahead of any other teams' racers.

The 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix was won by Max Verstappen making it the 36th win of his career and the first time he had won in Bahrain.