Benetton Formula

Benetton

Surname	Benetton Formula Limited racing team
Companies	Benetton Formula Ltd.
Company headquarters	Enstone , Oxfordshire ( GB )
Team boss	Peter Collins  (1986–1988) Flavio Briatore  (1989–1997, 2000–2001) David Richards  (1998) Rocco Benetton  (1999)
statistics
First Grand Prix	Brazil 1986
Last Grand Prix	Japan 2001
Race driven	260
Constructors' championship	1 ( 1995 )
Drivers World Championship	2 ( 1994 , 1995 )
Race wins	27
Pole positions	15th
Fastest laps	36
Points	861.5

The Benetton Formula Limited Racing Team was a Formula 1 racing team that competed in the Formula 1 World Championship from 1986 to 2001 . The team emerged from the Toleman racing team at the end of 1985 , which had been taken over by the Italian clothing manufacturer Benetton . In the mid-1990s, the Benetton Formula 1 team won the World Championship twice in a row with the German Michael Schumacher . Until 1995 Benetton drove under a British license, from 1996 with an Italian license. In 2000 , the Benetton Group sold the team to the French car manufacturer Renault , which started as the Renault F1 Team in 2002 .

The company Benetton Formula Ltd. was founded in 1970 as a sponsoring partner for various motorsport series.

History in Formula 1

1983–1986: Sponsoring and own team

1985: Alfa Romeo sponsored by Benetton

Ken Tyrrell was able to win Benetton as main sponsor for his Formula 1 team in 1983 . In the following season, Alfa Romeo was also sponsored by Benetton.

Beginning with Toleman

In May 1985, Benetton bought the Toleman team, which in 1986 was officially renamed “Benetton Formula 1 Racing Team”. As team manager, Peter Collins was lured away by competitor Williams , who had been team manager there. Collins subsequently won BMW as the first engine supplier to the racing team. Gerhard Berger and Teo Fabi signed contracts as drivers. Berger drove the first win for Benetton in Mexico in October 1986 . At the end of the season, the young team was in sixth place in the constructors' championship.

1987-1991: Ford, Briatore and Piquet

1988: The Benetton-Ford B188 was driven by Alessandro Nannini and Thierry Boutsen

After Gerhard Berger switched to Ferrari for the 1987 season , Thierry Boutsen joined the team as the second driver alongside Fabi. When this was announced, Ford's commitment as an engine supplier was published at the same time . This connection lasted for eight years. In 1987 Benetton exclusively used Ford's Cosworth GBA turbo engines , after which the team received the latest naturally aspirated engines from Cosworth as a preferred customer. After no victories in 1987 and 1988, Benetton decided to end the collaboration with Peter Collins. In winter 1988 the Benetton family contacted Flavio Briatore and won him over as managing director for the Benetton Formula One team . Even before Collins left the team, he signed Johnny Herbert for 1989 . However, Herbert was unable to fulfill this contract after a serious leg injury in Formula 3000 . He finished fourth on his debut in Brazil but had problems with his legs and failed to convince Briatore. That same year, the team posted their second win when Alessandro Nannini after the collision between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost the Grand Prix of Japan won.

With the help of Bernie Ecclestone , Briatore brought three-time world champion Nelson Piquet to Benetton as a driver for 1990 . He also hired John Barnard as technical director. Barnard replaced almost the entire workforce. Together with Joan Villadelprat , whom he poached from Tyrrell , he formed the new team. Alessandro Nannini was seriously injured in a helicopter accident in 1990. As a substitute driver for the race in Japan following the accident , Roberto Moreno was hired as a partner of Piquet. This duo took the first double win for Benetton. Piquet ended the season forgiving for the team with a win at the Australian Grand Prix .

After the successful end of the 1990 season, expectations for 1991 were high. But Piquet only won the Canadian Grand Prix . Halfway through the season, Tom Walkinshaw became co-owner of the team, and after Barnard left the team for failure, his deputy Gordon Kimball became technical director. But Walkinshaw wanted to fill this position with Ross Brawn , which he was able to achieve quickly. Ross Brawn brought Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds back to Benetton after their brief foray into Reynard's Formula 1 project . Walkinshaw made some changes in the team. Late in the 1991 season, young German Michael Schumacher joined Benetton after making his acclaimed debut with Jordan . Schumacher immediately impressed with above-average performances and even challenged “old master” Piquet in the same car, who then ended his F1 career.

1992–1994: Schumacher and the first World Cup

Benetton-Ford B192

For the 1992 season, Benetton signed the experienced Briton Martin Brundle in addition to his new talent Schumacher . However, Schumacher got along better with the Benetton B192 and won his first race at the Belgian Grand Prix . Brundle had to leave the team after a year despite solid results. Benetton had just missed second place in the constructors' championship, but was able to score points in all races of the season. As the best non-Williams driver, Schumacher finished third in his first full season in the World Championship - ahead of the reigning world champion Ayrton Senna.

In 1993, the McLaren team also relied on Ford engines, so that a campaign for the best expansion stage between Benetton and McLaren began. After Senna won three of the first six races, Ford turned to McLaren as the driving force - Benetton was left behind. The season was similar for the team to the previous one: Schumacher achieved regular podium finishes and won in Portugal . With last year's runner-up, Riccardo Patrese , at Schumacher's side, however, Benetton again “only” managed third place among the designers.

For the following season, massive rule changes were implemented (ban on electronic driving aids, reintroduction of refueling stops), which made it possible for Benetton to start the arms race with the competition on the same level. The Benetton B194 already promised a lot during test drives and actually dominated the first races of the 94th season. After Senna's death, it appeared that Schumacher had no opponent in the fight for the world championship. Benetton's superiority meant that rumors of illegal electronic systems arose at the latest after the “rocket launch” at the French Grand Prix. In fact, the Benetton team only released the control software for its electronics with considerable delay and at the repeated urging of the FIA for verification. The FIA ​​actually found files from an illegal starter during the investigation. However, it could not be proven that such an illegal system had been used. The team's statements that the program code found was merely an unused and accidentally not deleted remnant of the previous year's software (such systems were still allowed in 1993) could not be refuted.

Benetton continued to generate negative headlines: After a fire accident occurred while refueling Jos Verstappen's car at the German Grand Prix , it was said that the team had made unauthorized adjustments to the tank system. During the season, Benetton received some disqualifications and starting bans for Michael Schumacher: because of excessive wear of the wooden plank on the floor of the car at the Belgian Grand Prix and disregarding the black flag at the British Grand Prix. So had Damon Hill still chances for the title in the last race. At the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, however, both title opponents were eliminated after a controversial clash. Schumacher and Benetton won their first world title.

1995–1997: Renault and two other titles

Johnny Herbert in a Benetton-Renault B195

For the 1995 season, a deal was made between the Ligier team , which Briatore had bought in 1994, and Benetton. Walkinshaw went to Ligier and Briatore brought the Renault engines to Benetton. This combination turned out to be very strong, so that Benetton once again had a victorious car at their disposal. In the 1995 season Schumacher and his teammate Johnny Herbert were able to achieve a total of eleven victories. At the end of the year, both the driver's title and, for the first time, the constructor's title were on the credit side.

Schumacher had already signed with competitor Ferrari in the summer of 1995 and left the team at the end of the year. Benetton hired the previous Ferrari drivers Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger in the hope of continuing the success story. After the 96er car turned out to be too much tailored to the needs of the migrated Schumacher, both Berger and Alesi barely achieved fast lap times and not a single win, Brawn and Byrne also left the team for Ferrari. Symonds became technical director and Nick Wirth became chief designer. Although Berger won in Germany in 1997, Benetton still fell short of expectations. Berger retired from active motorsport after this season and Alesi signed with Sauber . Briatore also left Benetton after the failures of 1996 and 1997.

1998–2001: Failed new beginning and sale

Giancarlo Fisichella in Benetton-Playlife B199

For the 1998 season, the team was hoping for a fresh start. Renault had withdrawn as the official engine supplier and kept the door to Formula 1 open through its cooperation partner Mecachrome , which was now preparing the previous year's engines for racing. David Richards became the new team manager and Benetton hired the young drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz as drivers . Richards wanted to work with Ford again, which the Benetton family didn't like. This led to a dispute that ended with Richards handing the team over to the then 29-year-old Rocco Benetton in October 1998 . After the team could not win in 1999 either, the team was sold to Renault on March 16, 2000 for 120 million US dollars . Part of the deal was that the team would still run as Benetton-Renault in 2000 and 2001. The French used Flavio Briatore again as team boss, but initially stayed in the background. The new technical director Mike Gascoyne completely restructured the team. For the 2001 season, Renault came back as the official engine supplier and delivered a new V10 engine that put an end to Benetton's customer engine era. Fisichella stayed on board as the driver, and Jenson Button was signed at his side . After the end of the 2001 season, the Benetton brand name disappeared from Formula 1 and the team was completely absorbed by the Renault F1 Team .

Numbers and dates

Statistics in Formula 1

season	Team name	chassis	engine	tires	Grand Prix	Victories	Second	Third	Poles	nice Round	Points	World Cup rank
1986	Benetton Formula Ltd	Benetton B186	BMW 1.5 L4t	P	16	1	-	1	2	3	19th	6th
1987	Benetton Formula Ltd	Benetton B187	Ford 1.5 V6t	G	16	-	-	2	-	1	28	5.
1988	Benetton Formula Ltd	Benetton B188	Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8	G	16	-	-	7th	-	1	39	3.
1989	Benetton Formula Ltd	Benetton B188 Benetton B189	Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5 V8 Ford HB 3.5 V8	G	16	1	1	2	-	-	39	4th
1990	Benetton Formula Ltd	Benetton B189B Benetton B190	Ford HB 3.5 V8	G	16	2	3	2	-	1	71	3.
1991	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton B190B Benetton B191	Ford HB 3.5 V8	P	16	1	-	2	-	1	38.5	4th
1992	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton B191 Benetton B192	Ford HB 3.5 V8	G	16	1	4th	8th	-	2	91	3.
1993	Camel Benetton Ford	Benetton B193 Benetton B193B	Ford HB 3.5 V8	G	16	1	6th	4th	-	5	72	3.
1994	Mild Seven Benetton Ford	Benetton B194	Ford Zetec-R 3.5 V8	G	16	8th	2	2	6th	8th	103	2.
1995	Mild Seven Benetton Renault	Benetton B195	Renault 3.0 V10	G	17th	11	2	2	4th	8th	137 (147)	1.
1996	Mild Seven Benetton Renault	Benetton B196	Renault 3.0 V10	G	16	-	5	5	-	3	68	3.
1997	Mild Seven Benetton Renault	Benetton B197	Renault 3.0 V10	G	17th	1	5	1	2	2	67	3.
1998	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife	Benetton B198	Playlife 3.0 V10	B.	16	-	2	-	1	1	33	5.
1999	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife	Benetton B199	Playlife 3.0 V10	B.	16	-	1	-	-	-	16	6th
2000	Mild Seven Benetton Playlife	Benetton B200	Playlife 3.0 V10	B.	17th	-	1	2	-	-	20th	4th
2001	Mild Seven Benetton Renault	Benetton B201	Renault 3.0 V10	M.	17th	-	-	1	-	-	10	7th
total					260	27	32	41	15th	36	861.5

All Grand Prix winners on Benetton

Schumacher's Benetton B194 in the museum

driver	nation	Benetton active	Grand Prix	GP victories	World Cup points	World title	best World Championship position (year)
Michael sSchumacher		1991 - 95	68	19th	303.00	2	1. ( 1994 , 1995 )
Nelson Piquet		1990 - 91	32	3	70.50	-	3rd ( 1990 )
Gerhard Berger		1986 , 1996 - 97	46	2	65.00	-	5th ( 1997 )
Johnny Herbert		1989 , 1994 - 95	24	2	50.00	-	4th ( 1995 )
Alessandro Nannini		1988 - 90	46	1	65.00	-	6th ( 1989 )

Web links

Commons : Benetton Formula  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Extract from the British Commercial Register