Management of 'Did you knows'
One 'Did you know' is circulated from the list below onto the
F1 portal every Wednesday.
If this has not been done, please:
- Cut the top 'Did you know' from the list below.
- Paste it at the top of the list
here.
- Cut the bottom 'Did you know' from that list.
- And paste it back at the bottom of the list below.
Doing it this way means that all the 'Did you knows' get circulated through on a regular basis.
If the top 'Did you know' doesn't seem suitable (perhaps it is on the same topic as the current selected article or selected picture) then feel free to skip it and use the next one down.
If you have a new F1 'Did you know' the please add it directly to the top of the list below. You do not need to put it in the discussion section below first, unless you wish to. Again, if this means that it is too close to a similar 'Did you know', move it down the list so that it is further away. Please make sure to include all the appropriate wikilinks in your 'Did you know' and above all check that the 'Did you know' is accurate.
List of 'Did you knows'
- ...that the fuel supply to the car during a pitstop is 12 litres per second?
- ...that a
Formula One car can accelerate from standstill to 200 km/h and back again in less than seven seconds?
- ...that the highest speed a
Formula One car can travel at is around 375 km/h? However,
Monza is the only circuit where such speeds are likely to be touched.
- ...that motor racing has been banned in Switzerland since 1955, but a
Swiss GP was held in 1982 -- in
France?
- ...that, if
Fernando Alonso hadn't won the
2005 Drivers' Championship, his victory in 2006 still would have made him the youngest ever champion?
- ...that, when grooved tyres replaced
slicks in
1998, front tyres had three grooves while rear tyres had four? For the
following year, an additional groove was mandated on the front tyres in order to further slow the cars down.
- ...that, since the 1983
Race of Champions, no race with Formula One cars has been held which was not valid for the World Championship?
- ...that the tactic of refueling during a race, in order to run at a lighter weight on average, was re-introduced by the
Brabham team in
1982, not having been practiced since the 1950s? It was banned by the
FIA shortly afterwards and reintroduced in
1994 to add excitement to races.
- ...that
Graham Hill's son
Damon is the only son of a former F1 world champion to take the title himself? Damon won the
1996 title, while his father was champion in
1962 and
1968.
- ...that in the numbering sequence for drivers the number
13 has not been used since
1974? For a possible reason see
triskaidekaphobia.
- ...that
constructors are given grid boxes, garages and paddock space according to their position in the previous year's Constructor's Championship (the no.1 constructor taking the box closest to the pit entrance)?
- ...that the cars of
Scuderia Ferrari have completed 436,411 racing kms in 741 Grands Prix since the team's debut in the
World Championship? [as at 21/12/2006: The numbers will need to be updated if/when this one reaches the top of the list]
- ...that the longest gap between Grand Prix starts is 10 years, three months and 22 days?
Jan Lammers retired from the
Dutch GP on July 3, 1982, and did not make another start until the
Japanese GP on October 25, 1992.
- ...that the
Ferrari
640 was the first Formula One car to feature a semi-automatic, paddle-shift gearbox and the first to use seven speeds? The new technology was not always reliable, but it won on its debut in the
1989 Brazilian Grand Prix.
- ...
F1 Racing estimates that
RTL pays more for its F1 broadcast rights ($102 million) than any other company, followed by
ITV ($51m) and
RAI ($48m)?
- ...entering a new team in the F1 World Championship requires a US$48 million up-front payment to the
FIA, which is then repaid to the team over the season? This, along with other financial benefits, means that new entrants often prefer to buy an existing team.
- ...that
Suzuka is not the only F1 circuit to have a layout with a bridge over itself? The
Italian Grands Prix of
1955,
1956,
1960, and
1961 were raced on an alternative layout of
Monza that included a high-speed
oval crossing over the "normal" layout between Lesmo and Ascari (then called Vialone).
- ...that when he retired in
1993,
Riccardo Patrese had competed in nearly half the Formula One Grands Prix that had ever been held?
- ...that although Formula One has yet to gain a widespread following in the
United States, it is bigger than
IRL,
Champ Car or
NASCAR in terms of budgets and global TV audiences?
- ...that the currently published 2008
FIA
F1 regulations demand that
engines be
homologated over the period, which means that only limited FIA-approved changes will be allowed?
- ...that
Johnny Servoz-Gavin is the one and only driver to score a point in the World Championsip with a
4WD car?
- ...that, from
1950 to
1960, the
Indianapolis 500 was a round of the World Drivers' Championship (now known as the Formula One World Championship)?
- ...that
Al Pease is the only F1 driver in history to be black flagged for going too slow?
- ...that the famous 22 km long
Nürburgring
Nordschleife used for the
German Grand Prix until 1976 is not the longest track to ever hold a F1 World Championship race? This honor belongs to the
Pescara circuit at 25 km. The circuit was used only once, in 1957.
- ...that
Jody Scheckter and
Damon Hill are the only drivers to have ever competed with car number
zero in a World Championship race? While Hill raced #0 for two full seasons (
1993 and
1994), Scheckter only used it for two races in
1973.
- ...that
Alain Prost could have won the
1984 Formula One Season if he had finished second instead of first at the torrential
Monaco Grand Prix? As the Frenchman was being tracked down by rookie
Ayrton Senna, his pleas for the race to be halted were answered and half-points were awarded. However, had the race gone full distance and Senna had passed him, Prost would have taken the title from
Niki Lauda by a single point.
- ...that
Leo Kinnunen was the last driver to race in F1 using an open-faced helmet? That was in 1974, at a time when full-face helmets had been in use in F1 for more than four years. Kinnunen was also the first
Finn to start a Grand Prix.
- ...that
the oldest driver to compete in a Formula One World Championship race was 55 years and 292 days old?
- ...that, following
Michael Schumacher's retirement, Rubens Barrichello is the only still-active F1 driver to have been racing when
Ayrton Senna died, though he didn't take part in that race due to injury?
- ...that the
1974 French Grand Prix marked the only occasion in which F1 saw qualifying times of less than one minute? Twelve drivers managed to do that during qualifying: pole sitter
Niki Lauda, eventual winner
Ronnie Peterson,
Tom Pryce,
Clay Regazzoni,
Emerson Fittipaldi,
Mike Hailwood,
Jody Scheckter,
Carlos Reutemann,
Patrick Depailler,
James Hunt,
Denny Hulme, and
Jean-Pierre Jarier. The unexpectedly short lap times led to the
circuit being extended for subsequent F1 races.
- ...that during the
Monaco Grand Prix, an average driver changes gear around 3,100 times?
- ...that a
Formula One car contains more than 1000 different parts?
- ...than no
American driver has won a World Championship Grand Prix since
1978?
- ...that no
French driver has won a World Championship Grand Prix since
1996?
Discussion
Please add any comments, questions or discussions here:
Suzuka and Monza crossover layouts
Although this information is correct, the Australian Grand Prix was held at Oran Park Raceway in 1974 and 1977. This track features a figure of 8 layout also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oran_Park_Raceway
- I don't think those were F1 races. In the
Australian Grand Prix article the winners are listed as driving
Lola-
Chevrolets. Looks like
Formula 5000.
JCCyC (
talk) 03:13, 22 May 2008 (UTC)
The Swiss ban on motor racing
I corrected an error in the 'Did you know' about the Swiss ban on Motor Racing. It was instated following the disaster at the
1955 Le Mans 24h (not 1954), when
Pierre Levegh crashed into the crowd and 84 people were killed. Also, I found that this ban
has recently been lifted and this information should probably get its own 'Did you now'. Unfortunately I am new and my editing takes a lot of time :) but maybe someone can use this info. PS There must be an easier way to link to Wikinews pages?
Bobby Doorknobs 01:05, 15 July 2007 (UTC)
BT46B
It is worth noting that the 46B was not itself banned. After dialogue between FISA and Brabham, the team agreed not to enter the 46B again, and a ban on the technology was then put in place.
If anyone feels like writing the article on this team, here's some sources.
JCCyC 18:54, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
-
http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=BS%20Fabrications&type=A
-
http://forums.autosport-atlas.com/showthread.php?s=b4093754c2e79e384b4e5aca16e30ca7&threadid=24069
-
http://glibs.ssmmdd.co.uk/glibs/teaminfo.php?lang=usa&iset=,./:mdy&team=226
-
http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/BS_Fabrications (Swedish Wikipedia)
- I don't think it's appropriate to have a DYK with a red link on the F1 Portal, so I'll leave it on the list until the article is created.
--Diniz 11:29, 25 October 2006 (UTC)
- No longer red! :)
JCCyC 21:42, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
Jimmy Stewart
Regarding the current "Did You know?" regarding brothers of world champions, as there something in the criteria that excludes Jimmy and Jackie Stewart being the fourth brothers. --
Ryan86 00:15, 30 May 2006 (UTC)
- My error - I thought Jimmy hadn't actually taken part in an F1GP, but it appears that he did - albeit only one (
1953 British Grand Prix)! I've amended to take account of this.
4u1e
FIA bond
I've edited the amount new teams are required to lodge with the FIA, as according to the regulations it's $48m, so having a sterling amount doesn't make sense. It's on page 6 of the 2006 sporting regs
[1]--
Don Speekingleesh 20:34, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
Actually - it's a bit simplistic to say the reason new entrants prefer to buy existing outfits is purely to avoid the bond. There's also the fact that new teams don't get travel money, or TV money for their first year or two (and I think there may be voting restrictions on new teams too), and by purchasing an existing team the new entrant avoids losing out.--
Don Speekingleesh 22:19, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
- OK - so how about: "...entering a new team in the F1 World Championship requires a US$48 million up-front payment to the FIA, which is then repaid to the team over the season. This, along with other financial benefits, means new entrants often prefer to buy an existing team."?
4u1e 18:31, 4 June 2006 (UTC)
Sounds good to me! --
Don Speekingleesh 21:39, 4 June 2006 (UTC)
Done
4u1e 18:20, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
Damon Hill
After doing some of the work for the
Damon Hill article...I thought we could have this:
"...
Damon Hill is the only son of a Formula One world champion (
Graham Hill) to become world champion himself..." --
Skully Collins 15:05, 10 June 2006 (UTC)
- On there at the top of the list, mate! (Well, it was the top of the list until I moved up JCCyC's contributions from below :-) - don't want a damon 'did you know' appearing while he's also the featured article!)
4u1e 01:19, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
- "...
Damon Hill played the guitar in the opening song of the
Def Leppard album,
Euphoria...", I did also come across this
[2] Damon Hill, a script writer? for a Vh1 show? must be a writer with the same name? Also, there is a category called "Motorcyclists who have driven an F1 car", is Hill elligable to be in that category? --
Skully Collins 13:58, 21 June 2006 (UTC)
- Guitar playing sounds good, stick it in the list, but try and keep it away from other D or G Hill ones, so they don't end up on the portal at the same time. Not sure what we can do with the VH1 writer, which I assume is a coincidence (I used to know a Graham Hill as well, although he didn't have a moustache).
4u1e
- Damon Hill did indeed race motorcycles before transferring to cars. He was also a motorcycle courier.
Todays horse 04:04, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
Other contributions
My contributions:
- ...that, in
1970,
Jochen Rindt became Formula One World Champion after his own death?
- ...that the tactic of refueling during a race, in order to run with a lighter can on average, was introduced by the
Brabham team in
1982?
- ...that, up until
1960, the
Indianapolis 500 was considered part of the Formula One World Championship?
- ...that, as of June 2005, this is the longest run ever without a Formula One driver having been killed in action? (since
May 1, 1994)
Ooops, forgot to sign the above.
JCCyC 00:31, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
- I've tweaked and added these to the main list. Cheers!
4u1e 01:19, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
- More where those came from, as you can see above. ;)
JCCyC 22:19, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
Here are my Non-Hill contributions:
- ...that
Al Pease is the only F1 Driver in history to be black flagged for going to slow?
More to come some...hopefully! --
Skully Collins 13:28, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
- You're joking! That's a fantastic one - Poor guy. Where did you find that out? I've put it in the list.
- ...that the
McLaren MP4/1 was the first Formula One car to have a carbon fibre construction?
Alexj2002 17:04, 12 July 2006 (UTC)
- Alex, I've re-worded slightly and put it in the list (I've been doing some research on
Brabham who also made early use of Carbon Fibre).
- ...that
Leo Kinnunen was the last driver to race in F1 using open-faced helmet?
[3]
- I believe that one deserves to be on the list, even more so due to the anachronism -- Kinnunen raced F1 in 1974, while full helmets were in use since 1970, if not before. I'm putting it in. 02:32, 14 April 2008 (UTC)
- ...that Jenson Button's win at the Hungoring has made him the first British driver to win a grand prix since David Coulthard won in the Australian Grand Prix of 2003-65 races ago.
- ...and the first English driver to win since
Johnny Herbert at the
1999 European Grand Prix -- which means he's the first Englishman to win in the 21st century!
JCCyC 19:34, 25 August 2006 (UTC)
- ...that Jenson Button is the first English winner of a Grand Prix since Johnny Herbert won the European Grand Prix of 1999- 119 races ago.
- Duh. I'm blind. Wrote the above completely oblivious to this. Sorry.
JCCyC 19:48, 25 August 2006 (UTC)
- ...that over 12000 tonnes of stone was used for the construction of the Sakhir Circuit.
- Doesn't belong in the Senna article, too trvial. Hopefully it's okay for F1 DYK.--
Skully
Collins
Edits 08:12, 13 November 2006 (UTC)
- ...that the Ferrari 035/5 was the first Formula One car to feature a paddle change gearbox?
- Probably needs spelling corrections and a wiki-link to the article, if there is one. Thanks to 4u1e, who told me about this, but I just wanted to put a year on this fact.--
Skully
Collins
Edits 09:23, 13 November 2006 (UTC)
- 1989 in case anyone was wondering: the first of the
641 series. It was F1's first ever 7-speed as well, long before it became de rigueur! Mansell won on the car's debut in Mexico, but it was a recalcitrant so-and-so on a frequent basis. If memory serves me, no other team raced with a semi-auto until '91. That year's MP4-6 was fitted with it late in the season, I think.
Adrian
M. H. 23:45, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
- (Checked a book today and the designation was 640) I'll re-write the fact accordingly and move it up to the list above.
Adrian
M. H. 16:46, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
- Here are a few others I've found for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix:
- --
Skully
Collins
Review Me! Please? 12:41, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
Jackie Stewart
I question the statement that Jackie Stewart is the only F1 World Champion not to have driven for Lotus, Williams, Ferrari or McLaren. Jack Brabham certainly drove a Lotus in F1, but he never drove for (Team) Lotus (or any of the other three).
DH85868993 11:01, 23 July 2007 (UTC)
- No-one has responded to this for over a year, so I've removed the DYK.--
Diniz
(talk) 17:12, 2 October 2008 (UTC)
References
It occurs to me that we ought to do references for these as well. Which means leaving items that are on the portal here, somehow. Perhaps we could put them in italics to make it clear when they are 'in use'? Thoughts? Alternatively, if the full article is referenced, then it need not be a problem.
4u1e 22:31, 16 July 2006 (UTC)
- Couldn't we group them? Like 5 different facts in each group, I suggest a group like this:
- You're Joking. Seriously? (Facts that the reader will find funny)
- I have a few candidates for those:
-
1977 German Grand Prix -
Hans Heyer fails to qualify but joins the race anyway.
-
Taki Inoue - bona fide disaster magnet. Hit by a service car while being towed away by another in
Monaco; Run over by another service car at
Hungaroring.
-
Vittorio Brambilla crashed after winning his only GP, in
Austria.
- The aforementioned Brambilla gained pole position in the
1975 Swedish Grand Prix by cheating on the part of his team -- the crew realized they could wave object in front of the measuring light and did so a fraction of a second before he crossed the finish line in qualifying. In only came to light years later -- Brambilla himself did not know.
- Ah, I uploaded a video on
YouTube for the Taki Inoune thing:
[4] --
Skully
Collins
Review Me! Please? 11:11, 29 August 2006 (UTC)
- Found another one:
- ...that, by technicality,
Takuma Sato won the
2002 Brazilian Grand Prix, instead of the Official winner
Michael Schumacher, as he was the first driver to see the checkered flag?