F1 Drivers: The Also-Rans Trivia Quiz

Answer: 208

While there is no doubting that the very likable Italian was a very quick driver, and probably could have won a Grand Prix in more favourable circumstances, the unfortunate de Cesaris earned the nickname 'Andrea de Crasheris' early in his career with a wild reputation for crashing but he developed into a quick, reliable drivers that team owners could depend on. de Cesaris raced in Formula One from 1980-1994, achieving one pole position, five podiums and scored 59 points.

His best finish overall was in 1983 when he finished 8th in the Drivers Championship driving for Alfa Romeo.

Answer: 104

Martini raced for Minardi in 1985, from mid-1988 to 1991, then from mid-1993 to mid-1995. He scored all but two points in his career with the Faenza squad and set nearly all the records for Minardi - their first points (USGP 1988), their only lap ever led (Estoril 1989), their only front row (Phoenix 1990), their highest finish (two fourth places in 1991 at Imola and Estoril) and the only driver to race a century of races for the small team.

Answer: 4

Stefano Modena, 1987 Formula 3000 champion, made his Formula One debut late in the same season for Brabham-BMW at the Australian Grand Prix. He raced for EuroBrun in 1988 with no results, then for Brabham in 1989-90 where the team slowly fell down the grid as the team struggled with finances. Tyrrell-Honda in 1991 provided his best result in Formula One with a second at the Canadian GP, before a final season at Jordan saw a disheartened Modena retire from Formula One before the 1993 season.

Answer: 5

Capelli joined March in 1987 and scored one point at Monaco. 1988 was even better for Capelli as he was the standout of the season, with numerous great drives and points finishes in Canada, Germany, a first podium in Belgium followed by a terrific second at Estoril in Portugal. 1989 and early 1990 were poor in comparison, until the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, where Capelli led Gugelmin in a Leyton House 1-2 for 45 laps before Prost overtook near the end of the race, but the point had been made and Capelli finished a worthy second. 1991 was another poor season before leaving for Ferrari.

Answer: 0

Badoer set a record of competing in the most Grand Prix without scoring a point, a total of 56 (48 started, 6 not qualified, one did not start and one did not participate). He drove for Scuderia Italia, Minardi, Forti, and Minardi again across four seasons.

The closet he came was at the 1999 European Grand Prix, where in a wet/dry race he made all the right calls on tyres and pitstops, and was running fourth with 13 laps to go when his car expired. A heartbroken Badoer broke down in tears beside his car.

Answer: 1984 USGP in Dallas

Ghinzani competed in 111 Grand Prix over an eight year period, mostly with perennial backmarkers Osella. He made his Grand Prix debut with Osella in 1981 at the Belgian Grand Prix but would have to wait until 1983 to get a full-time drive, again with Osella. Ghinzani scored his only points with Osella at the USGP in 1984 held in stifling conditions in Dallas. Ghinzani survived the carnage and crumbling track to take his only points finish of his career in fifth.

The rest of his career was that of a journeyman with little in the way of results and he retired at the end of 1989.

Answer: German Grand Prix

At the 1982 German Grand Prix held at Hockenheim, Nelson Piquet was well in front in his Brabham and was coming up to lap Salazar at one of the chicanes. Salazar either didn't see the Brazilian or didn't want to let him by, as the two collided when Piquet tried to pass him. Piquet was furious, and to the astonishment of a global TV audience, and probably Salazar himself, Piquet launched a flurry of punches and kicks, most landing on Salazar's helmet.

Answer: Japanese GP

Roberto Moreno struggled with uncompetitive machinery until Benetton required his services for the final two races of 1990, when regular driver Alessandro Nannini had a helicopter crash. He repaid the faith the team placed in him, following home childhood friend Nelson Piquet in an emotional 1-2 after the controversial clash between Prost and Senna at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

Answer: AGS

Originally out of a drive for the 1989 season, Tarquini was taken on by AGS after Philippe Streiff was injured in a crash. His first race netted an eighth place, and even better was to come in Mexico where he finished sixth. But after the French Grand Prix, Tarquini failed to make the grid again.

Answer: 97

Katayama was a popular figure in Formula One with his bubbly personality and constant smile. He made his debut for Larrousse in 1992, mostly due to his sponsorship backing but the Japanese driver was impressive enough, only failing to qualify twice. He then spent four years driving for Tyrrell, his best season being in 1994 when he scored five points, then a season at Minardi in 1997 before retiring.

Answer: True

Gachot joined the new Jordan team for 1991 and was instantly competitive along Andrea de Cesaris. He scored his first points in Canada with a fifth place, and more points followed in Britain and Germany. But Gachot was then jailed for two months by a British Court after a traffic altercation led to Gachot using CS gas on a taxi driver.

After leaving jail, he only drove at the season ending Australian Grand Prix for Larrousse. However, it was not all bad news for Gachot in 1991 as he won the Le Mans 24 Hours for Mazda with fellow F1 driver Johnny Herbert.

Answer: Forti

Thanks primarily to large financial backing, Diniz made his Formula One debut for Forti in 1995, driving the distinctive yellow cars without any success the entire season. But he did regularly finish the race thanks to the cars reliability but they were painfully slow.

It took a few years for Diniz to rid of his 'pay-driver' image, but he retired in 2000 with a reputation as a solid if unspectacular race car driver.

Answer: Lotus

Salo made his F1 debut at Suzuka for Lotus in 1994 with the great British constructor on its last legs. He also raced for the team at Lotus, but the team then pulled out of F1 and Salo made his way around the Formula One paddock without any major success before replacing Michael Schumacher at Ferrari in 1999 for six races, scoring his best position of second at the German Grand Prix.

Answer: Juan Pablo Montoya

Jos Verstappen spent two rather successful years with Arrows in 2000/01 as the cars proved rather quick, particularly with the strategy used by the team. But he didn't endear himself to anyone when he collided with rookie Juan Pablo Montoya at the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Columbian heading towards a first victory in only his third race for Williams.

Answer: 0

Zanardi returned to Formula One in 1999 with Williams, but it was nothing short of a disaster. The car was unreliable and Zanardi just couldn't adapt to the modern Formula One regulations. Things marginally improved as the season he went on but without scoring a point. Zanardi was dropped for 2000.