Constructed at a former airfield used for bombers during World War 2, the first race at Silverstone was held in 1948. After some modifications to the layout, in 1950 Silverstone was host to the first ever Formula One Grand Prix in the 1950 World Drivers Championship. The circuit was again altered in 2011 with the addition of a new pit complex, stands and moving the star/finish line. In addition, the track layout was altered in some places. Despite these changes Silverstone remains one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar.
Despite being on pole position for the 2015 British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, was overtaken by the Williams team driver, Felipe Masa. Hamilton fell further behind, after trying to overtake Masa on lap four after a safety car period to deal with multiple crashes on the opening lap. However, with a combination of pit stops and rain Hamilton went on to win the British Grand Prix from Rosberg.
2. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Answer: Belgian GP
Located near to the Belgian town of Francorchamps, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was the longest circuit used during the 2015 F1 calendar is just over 4 miles (7km) long. Built on part of the former circuit - that was once nearly twice the length of the current circuit - the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is still one of the fastest race tracks used to host F1 Grand Prix's.
Built in the Ardennes forest, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has a combination of fast straights, corners and elevation changes which provide a challenge to drivers. However, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has seen a number of fatalities occur at the circuit, not just at Formula 1 race, but other motor sport events.
At the 2015 Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton secured the 39th pole position of his F1 career, and leading from the start he went on to win the race from his team mate Nico Rosberg.
3. Montreal.
Answer: Canadian GP
Originally named the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on a man made island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River - originally built to host Expo 67 to mark 100 years of Canadian independence. The island also was host to the 1976 Montreal Olympics, rowing and canoeing events.
The first F1 race was held at the circuit in 1978, and won by Gilles Villeneuve. After the tragic death of Villeneuve during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, the circuit was named after him and has played host the to Canadian Grand Prix for a number of years.
In 2015, the Canadian Grand Prix was round seven on the F1 Grand Prix calendar, and saw yet again Lewis Hamilton win the race from pole position, giving him his fifth victory at the circuit.
4. Melbourne street circuit.
Answer: Australian GP
Taking over the Australian Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1996, the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit was built around a lake located in Albert Park. Although located in a park, the course used public roads, and was therefore considered a street race circuit. As such the public had access to drive around much of the circuit when it is not in use for race meetings.
In 2015, the Australian Grand Prix was the first round of the F1 calendar, and saw Lewis Hamilton gain his first pole position of the season. However, the race was marred by a number of incidents. Manor Marussia - having secured last minute financing - arrived but did not race having completed no pre-season testing. Meanwhile, the Sauber team only made the race despite legal action taken against them by a driver who had been contracted to race for them.
This left only 18 cars competing on race day, however, an injury to Williams driver Valterri Botas, along with retirement on the formation lap for Daniil Kvyat and Kevin Magnussen saw only 15 cars actually start the race. Eventually, only 11 cars finished the race with Lewis Hamilton gaining his first victory of the 2015 F1 season.
5. Sepang International Circuit.
Answer: Malaysian GP
Built some 45km south of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, the Sepang International Circuit first held the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999. Designed by German engineer Hermann Tilke, the Sepang International Circuit was one of a number of circuits that Tilke was responsible for its layout - others include Bahrain, Singapore, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. A clockwise circuit, the Sepang International Circuit has two main straights - connected by a hairpin bend, along with a number of fast, high-speed corners.
In the 2015, Malaysian Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton gain pole position in a rain affected qualifying session, giving his 40th pole position. Although leading from the start of the race, an incident required a safety car to come out on the track on lap 4 saw Hamilton an a number of other drivers come into the pits for new tyres. However, Sebastian Vettel stayed on the track. This decision led to Vettel gain his first victory since the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix, and his first win for the Scuderia Ferrari team in 2015.
6. Suzuka.
Answer: Japanese GP
Situated outside of Suzuka City, the Suzuka International Racing Course is owned by a subsidiary company of Honda. Home to the Japanese Grand Prix - having taken over from the Fuji Speedway when F1 Grand Prix racing returned to Japan - Suzuka is unusual for a grand prix track in that it was built with a figure 8 layout, with a bridge crossing over the track. Also, due to the layout of the track, it is one of the few circuits on the F1 calendar to have one DRS (Drag Reduction System) Zone, as opposed to two on most other circuits used to race F1 cars.
Traditionally, the Japanese Grand Prix was one of the last races in the F1 calendar, and as such saw a number of drivers win their world titles at the track. These include the legendary clashes between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in which both drivers won the Drivers Championship in controversial circumstances.
The 2015 race saw Nico Rosberg gain pole position in a qualifying session halted by a red flag just before the third qualifying session was due to end. However, a poor start by Rosberg saw him passed by his team mate Lewis Hamilton who went on to win the race. Unlike most races which contained a number of cars failing to finish, the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix had only one official retirement for a driver in Felipe Nasr, who's Sauber broke down two laps from the finish. However, Nasr was still classified as in last place having completed enough laps to be placed 4 laps behind the winner.
7. Yas Marina.
Answer: Abu Dhabi GP
The final race of the F1 calendar in 2015, the Yas Marina Circuit is located on an island, not far from the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
Designed by Hermann Tilke, the circuit features a number of unusual design features, such as the pit exit passing under the end of the start/finish straight, along with 21 corners. In addition, the start/finish straight is not a DRS zone with the DRS zones being located between turns 7 & 8, and turn's 10 & 11. The circuit itself is built around a complex of hotels the Yas Marina and also includes the Ferrari World theme park.
Like the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix also starts at dusk, ending in a night-time race held under flood lights. Since it's inception in 2009 the Abu Dhabi GP has been the final race in the F1 calendar. By the time of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was already World Drivers Champion, qualifying second behind his team mate and eventual winner Nico Rosberg.
8. Interlagos.
Answer: Brazilian GP
The first F1 race held at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace was held in 1972 - which was a non championship race. Although during the early years of F1 racing in Brazil, the Brazilian GP was also staged in Rio de Janeiro, the circuit at Interlagos has established its home at Interlagos after modifications were made to the track layout to make it shorter. In addition, the complex of corners located at the end of the start/finish straight was named the Senna "S" after local F1 driver Ayrton Senna who tragically died in the 1994 San Marino GP at Imola.
At one time, the Brazilian GP was the last race of the season, and as such saw a number of drivers win their world titles there. One such driver was Lewis Hamilton who needed to finish no lower than 5th place to win his first World Drivers Championship title. On the final lap Hamilton was in sixth place in a rain affected race. His rival, Felipe Masa has already finished first, giving him the points he needed to be crowned the 2008 Drivers Champion, but in the last few corners, Hamilton passed Timo Glock's Toyota to win his first World Drivers title.
The 2015 race saw Nico Rosberg win from pole position, beating his team mate Lewis Hamilton in which Mercedes had dominated the 2015 F1 season, having already secured both the F1 Constructors and Drivers titles by the time of the 2015 Brazilian GP.
9. Circuit of the Americas.
Answer: United States GP
Located outside of Austin, Texas, the Circuit of the Americas hosted its first United States GP in 2012. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the track has a number of elevation changes, fast corners, and a main start/finish straight that climbs uphill to a hairpin bend offering a number of overtaking possibilities for drivers. In the middle of the circuit is also an observation tower - that was designed by Miró Rivera Architects. This tower offers spectators a 360-degree view of the track.
Qualifying for the United States GP in 2015 was interrupted by heavy rain, meaning that the third qualifying session on the Saturday of race weekend had to be cancelled and moved to Sunday, before the race took place. On the Sunday morning, more rain fell leading to there only being two qualifying sessions, which saw Nico Rosberg to take pole position for the race.
As the drivers started the race, Hamilton forced Rosberg of the track in Turn One, gaining the lead. However, by lap 18 Hamilton was passed not only by his team mate, but also the Red Bull drivers Ricciado and Kvyat. Through a combination of retirements and mistakes by his rivals, Hamilton won the 2015 United States GP, giving him not only his 10th win of the season but his 3rd World Drivers Champion title.
10. Marina Bay Street circuit (night-time F1 race).
Answer: Singapore GP
Designed by KRB - based on the original design by Hermann Tilke - the Marina Bay Circuit held its first Singapore GP in 2008. In addition, race was the sole grand prix race during the 2015 F1 calendar to be held entirely at night - the Abu Dhabi GP and Bahrain GP starting at sunset.
Situated in the Marina Bay area of central Singapore, the track is a street course, consisting of 23 corners set amongst the stunning skyline which includes the Marina Sands Hotel, the Singapore Flyer Ferris Wheel, and the Marina Bay Financial Centre.
The 2015 race saw Sebastian Vettel break the dominance of the Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, gaining his first pole position since the 2013 Brazilian GP, and his first pole position for Ferrari. In addition, the race also saw Hamilton have his only DNF (Did Not Finish) result of 2015, having either been in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place for the other 18 races.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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