F1 World Championship 2004 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Federation Internationale d'Automobile

The FIA is the world governing body on motor sport, which sets out the rules for Formula One and other motor races. Formula One, otherwise known as Grand Prix, is the most prestigious series, and attracts the most investment and media coverage. The first official Formula One race was at Pau in France in 1948, and the first world championship series was in 1950 commencing at Silverstone, England on 13th May.

Answer: Flavio Briatore

At the start of the 2004 season, Flavio Briatore was managing director of Renault. Stefano Domenicali was Ferrari's team manager, Rory Byrne was their chief designer, and Ross Brawn was technical director.

Answer: six

Michael Schumacher won his first Formula One world championship in 1994, driving for Benetton. He went on to win the 1995 championship, also for Benetton. In 1996 he transferred to Ferrari, and won the world championship driving for them in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. His first Grand Prix win was the Belgian in 1991, and by the close of 2003 he'd won a total of seventy Grand Prix races.

Answer: A1-Ring - Austrian Grand Prix

2004 was not the first season the A1-Ring circuit has been dropped from Formula One racing. It was also dropped after the 1987 season, at which time it was called the Osterreichring, and reinstated in 1997 following a large investment in modernisation and safety.

In 1975 Vittorio Brambilla won his only F1 race here but crashed his March Ford-Cosworth in very wet conditions during the victory lap, becoming the first Formula One driver to crash after winning the race!

Answer: ten

For a first change ten places on the grid were lost, and for a second change the driver started from the back of the grid. If an engine was changed after the qualifying session was completed, even if it was a first change, the driver started from the back of the grid. Engines were fitted with seals before the practice session, and if the seal was removed or damaged it was treated as an engine change and penalised accordingly.

Answer: True

There were sixteen Grand Prix races in 2003, and eighteen in 2004. The Austrian Grand Prix was dropped from the 2004 series, and the Belgian Grand Prix was reinstated. There were two new Grand Prix circuits in 2004, at Shanghai and Bahrain.

Answer: Montreal - Canadian Grand Prix

The Belgian Grand Prix was dropped from the Formula One calendar in 2003 because of tobacco advertising objections. These were resolved in time for the circuit to be reinstated for the 2004 series. The Bahrain and the Chinese circuits were entirely new, and full details of them can be found at www.bahraingp.com.bh and www.f1china.com.cn

Answer: Great Britain

At the start of the season Brazil and Germany had three drivers competing in the 2004 world championship, while Britain had only two. Italy had most with four drivers competing. The Brazilian drivers were Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa, and Cristiano da Matta.

The German drivers were Michael Schumacher, Ralf Schumacher, and Nick Heidfeld. The Italian drivers were Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, and newcomers Gianmaria Bruni and Giorgio Pantano. The two British drivers were Jenson Button and David Coulthard.

Answer: Most consecutive wins

At the start of the 2004 season Michael Schumacher had seventy Grand Prix wins, fifty-five fastest laps, and eleven single season wins. The record for most consecutive wins was held by the Italian Alberto Ascari, who achieved nine consecutive wins in 1952 and 1953, the last six of the former year and first three of the latter.

Answer: Champagne was banned from the podium celebrations.

Although alcoholic beverages were not illegal in Bahrain, which is a Moslem country, it was felt that the traditional spraying of champagne by winning drivers could cause offence. A special drink was produced for the podium celebrations, made from local fruit juices and rosewater.

It is not the first time champagne has been absent from a Grand Prix podium, as winning Williams drivers were requested not to use it between 1978 and 1985, when the team was sponsored by Saudia, the Saudi Arabian national airline.

Answer: Suzuka - Japan

The Japanese Suzuka circuit is unique in Formula One racing in having a figure of eight shape. It is also regarded by many drivers as the most technically demanding. The start of the circuit is a relatively steep downhill, which in 1988 enabled Ayrton Senna to get away without assistance after he had stalled his engine just before the start.

Answer: True

The revised rules increased the pit lane speed limit from 80km/hour to 100km/hour. Other rule changes related to free and qualifying practice sessions, engine changes, use of third driver and spare car, and safety features such as increased wheel tether strength.

Answer: Christian Klien for Jaguar

The Austrian driver Christian Klien made his Formula One debut at the 2004 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne where he finished a respectable 11th. Zsolt Baumgartner made his debut at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. Cristiano da Matta also made his debut in 2003 at the Australian Grand Prix. Felipe Massa made his Grand Prix debut in 2001, also at Melbourne, Australia.

Another driver making his Formula One debut at Melbourne was Giorgio Pantano for Jordan.

Answer: engine failure

Sato had a spectacular start, overtaking both Ferraris. Then in lap three his engine suffered a massive failure creating a huge cloud of smoke, which then caused a total loss of visibility for some of the following drivers. Giancarlo Fisichella driving a Sauber was one of these, and he collided with David Coulthard's McLaren and tipped over. Fortunately no drivers were seriously hurt in this incident.

Answer: Brazil

The Brazilian Grand Prix takes place at the Interlagos circuit. In 2003 the race had to be curtailed due to torrential rain which caused a number of collisions. When the race was halted in the 56th lap, a little used rule called the "Countback Rule" came into play which resulted in the race being awarded to Giancarlo Fisichella of Jordan who was leading in lap 54.

This was Fisichella's first Grand Prix win.