Benetton Formula
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| Full name | Benetton Formula Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Base | Enstone, United Kingdom |
| Notable staff | Flavio Briatore Ross Brawn Mike Gascoyne Nigel Stepney Pat Symonds Steve Matchett David Richards Peter Collins Rory Byrne |
| Notable drivers | Michael Schumacher Nelson Piquet Gerhard Berger Riccardo Patrese |
| World Championship Career | |
| Debut | 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix |
| Races competed | 260 |
| Constructors' Championships | 1 (1995) |
| Drivers' Championships | 2 (1994, 1995) |
| Race victories | 27 |
| Pole positions | 15 |
| Fastest laps | 36 |
| Final race | 2001 Japanese Grand Prix |
Benetton Formula Ltd., commonly referred to simply as Benetton, was a Formula One constructor that participated from 1986 to 2001. The team was owned by the Benetton family who run a worldwide chain of clothing stores of the same name. In 2000 the team was purchased by Renault, but competed as Benetton for the 2001 season. In 2002 the team became Renault F1.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Benetton Group entered in Formula 1 as a sponsor company for Tyrrell in 1983, then Alfa Romeo in 1984 and 1985 and finally Toleman in 1985. Benetton Formula Ltd. was formed at the end of 1985 when the Toleman and the Spirit teams were sold to the Benetton family. The team began with BMW engines and then later switched to Ford.
The team was managed by Flavio Briatore from 1990 until 1997. Rocco Benetton, the youngest son of Luciano Benetton joined the team as aerodynamics engineer in 1998 and fired Briatore. He replaced him with Prodrive boss David Richards, who lasted only for a year when he too was fired, due to a disagreement with the Benetton family about future strategy. Following Richards' departure, Rocco Benetton managed the team for three years until its sale to Renault. Rocco Benetton successfully managed to achieve an unheard of salesprice in F1 terms.
The Benetton team is best known for its success with Michael Schumacher, who accounts for 19 of the team's 27 career victories and their 2 drivers' championships. After switching to Renault engines, they also won the constructor's championship in 1995 with Schumacher and Johnny Herbert. After 1995, Schumacher moved to Ferrari along with Ross Brawn, Nigel Stepney, Rory Byrne and 11 other key figures from his two championship winning seasons with Benetton. From this point, the Benetton team was never what it once was.
On March 16 2000, the team was sold to Renault for $120 million US. As part of their restructuring, Renault brought back Flavio Briatore as team manager. During their final season in 2001 the drivers, Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella, were often on the back two rows of the grid. This was in part attributed to the new 110-degree wide angle engine. But as the Renault era approached, the cars' performance lifted. Towards the end of the season, Giancarlo Fisichella recorded a fine podium finish behind Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard. Continued development allowed Benetton to leave Formula 1 on somewhat of a high.
[edit] Controversy
During the 1994 season, some rival teams claimed Benetton had found a way to violate the FIA-imposed ban on electronic aids, including Traction Control and Launch Control. On investigation, the FIA discovered "start sequence" (launch control) software in the Benetton B194 cars, and a variety of illegal software in rival teams' cars as well. FIA had no evidence the software was ever used, so teams found with the software received little to no punishment. No traction control software was found to be in the Benetton cars, however. Flavio Briatore, Benetton's chief in 1994, said in 2001 that "Our only mistake was that at the time we were too young and people were suspicious".[1] However, one of the B194 cars used by Schumacher during 1994 has recently been offered for sale, its condition described as "exactly as in the day, with traction control".[2]
During the 1994 season Benetton removed a fuel filter from the refueling rig used during pit stops. This may have resulted in a fire that took place during Jos Verstappen's first pitstop at Hockenheim.
[edit] Nationality
Benetton Team had a United Kingdom license from 1986 to 1995 and an Italian license from 1996 to 2001. Benetton family wanted this change of nationality in order to have a F1 team of their own country.[3][4]
[edit] Benetton drivers
Former drivers for Benetton include Jean Alesi, Gerhard Berger, Thierry Boutsen, Martin Brundle, Jenson Button, Giancarlo Fisichella, Johnny Herbert, Jyrki Järvilehto, Roberto Moreno, Alessandro Nannini, Riccardo Patrese, Nelson Piquet, Michael Schumacher, Jos Verstappen and Alexander Wurz.
[edit] Complete Formula One Results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)
| Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Benetton B186 | BMW 4 in-line (t/c) | P | BRA | ESP | SMR | MON | BEL | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | AUT | ITA | POR | MEX | AUS | 19 | 6th | ||
| Teo Fabi | 10 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 10 | |||||||
| Gerhard Berger | 6 | 6 | 3 | Ret | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 10 | Ret | 7 | 5 | Ret | 1 | Ret | |||||||
| 1987 | Benetton B187 | Ford V6 (t/c) | G | BRA | SMR | BEL | MON | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | AUT | ITA | POR | ESP | MEX | JPN | AUS | 28 | 5th | ||
| Teo Fabi | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 5 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 3 | 7 | 4 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | |||||||
| Thierry Boutsen | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 3 | |||||||
| 1988 | Benetton B188 | Ford V8 | G | BRA | SMR | MON | MEX | CAN | USA | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 39 | 3rd | ||
| Alessandro Nannini | Ret | 6 | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 3 | 18 | Ret | DSQ | 9 | Ret | 3 | 5 | Ret | |||||||
| Thierry Boutsen | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 3 | DSQ | 6 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | |||||||
| 1989 | Benetton B188 Benetton B189 |
Ford V8 | G | BRA | SMR | MON | MEX | USA | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 39 | 4th | ||
| Alessandro Nannini | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | Ret | DSQ | Ret | 3 | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 4 | Ret | 1 | 2 | |||||||
| Johnny Herbert | 4 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 5 | DNQ | |||||||||||||||||
| Emanuele Pirro | 9 | 11 | Ret | 8 | 10 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | |||||||||||||
| 1990 | Benetton B189B Benetton B190 |
Ford V8 | G | USA | BRA | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 71 | 3rd | ||
| Alessandro Nannini | 11 | 10 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 4 | 16 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | |||||||||
| Roberto Moreno | 2 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Nelson Piquet | 4 | 6 | 5 | DSQ | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 1991 | Benetton B190B Benetton B191 |
Ford V8 | P | USA | BRA | SMR | MON | CAN | MEX | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | ESP | JPN | AUS | 38.5 | 4th | ||
| Roberto Moreno | Ret | 7 | 13 | 4 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Michael Schumacher | 5 | 6 | 6 | Ret | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nelson Piquet | 3 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 1 | Ret | 8 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 3 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 4 | |||||||
| 1992 | Benetton B191B Benetton B192 |
Ford V8 | G | SAF | MEX | BRA | ESP | SMR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 91 | 3rd | ||
| Michael Schumacher | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Ret | 4 | 2 | Ret | 4 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 3 | 7 | Ret | 2 | |||||||
| Martin Brundle | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 4 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| 1993 | Benetton B193 Benetton B193B |
Ford V8 | G | SAF | BRA | EUR | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | AUS | 72 | 3rd | ||
| Michael Schumacher | Ret | 3 | Ret | 2 | 3 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 1 | Ret | Ret | |||||||
| Riccardo Patrese | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 4 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 16 | Ret | 8 | |||||||
| 1994 | Benetton B194 | Ford V8 | G | BRA | PAC | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | JPN | AUS | 103 | 2nd | ||
| Michael Schumacher | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | DSQ | Ret | 1 | DSQ | EX | EX | 1 | 2 | Ret | |||||||
| Jos Verstappen | Ret | Ret | Ret | 8 | Ret | 3 | 3 | Ret | 5 | Ret | |||||||||||||
| J.J. Lehto | Ret | 7 | Ret | 6 | 9 | Ret | |||||||||||||||||
| Johnny Herbert | Ret | Ret | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Benetton B195 | Renault V10 | G | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | EUR | PAC | JPN | AUS | 137 | 1st | |
| Michael Schumacher | 1 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Ret | 1 | 11 | 1 | Ret | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Ret | ||||||
| Johnny Herbert | Ret | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | Ret | Ret | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 3 | Ret | ||||||
| 1996 | Benetton B196 | Renault V10 | G | AUS | BRA | ARG | EUR | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN | 68 | 3rd | ||
| Jean Alesi | Ret | 2 | 3 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 3 | Ret | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | Ret | |||||||
| Gerhard Berger | 4 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 3 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 4 | 2 | 13 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 6 | 4 | |||||||
| 1997 | Benetton B197 | Renault V10 | G | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | AUT | LUX | JPN | EUR | 67 | 3rd | |
| Jean Alesi | Ret | 6 | 7 | 5 | Ret | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 2 | Ret | 2 | 5 | 13 | ||||||
| Gerhard Berger | 4 | 2 | 6 | Ret | 9 | 10 | Inj | Inj | Inj | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 4 | ||||||
| Alexander Wurz | Ret | Ret | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Benetton B198 | Playlife V10 | B | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | ESP | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | DEU | HUN | BEL | ITA | LUX | JPN | 33 | 5th | ||
| Giancarlo Fisichella | Ret | 6 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | Ret | 7 | 8 | Ret | 8 | 6 | 8 | |||||||
| Alexander Wurz | 7 | 4 | 4 | Ret | 4 | Ret | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 11 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 7 | 9 | |||||||
| 1999 | Benetton B199 | Playlife V10 | B | AUS | BRA | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | AUT | DEU | HUN | BEL | ITA | EUR | MYS | JPN | 16 | 6th | ||
| Giancarlo Fisichella | 4 | Ret | 5 | 5 | 9 | 2 | Ret | 7 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 14 | |||||||
| Alexander Wurz | Ret | 7 | Ret | 6 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 14 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 10 | |||||||
| 2000 | Benetton B200 | Playlife V10 | B | AUS | BRA | SMR | GBR | ESP | EUR | MON | CAN | FRA | AUT | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | USA | JPN | MYS | 20 | 4th | |
| Giancarlo Fisichella | 5 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 14 | 9 | ||||||
| Alexander Wurz | 7 | Ret | 9 | 9 | 10 | 12 | Ret | 9 | Ret | 10 | Ret | 11 | 13 | 5 | 10 | Ret | 7 | ||||||
| 2001 | Benetton B201 | Renault V10 | M | AUS | MYS | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | USA | JPN | 10 | 7th | |
| Giancarlo Fisichella | 13 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 11 | 13 | 4 | Ret | 3 | 10 | 8 | 17 | ||||||
| Jenson Button | 14 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 15 | Ret | 7 | Ret | 13 | 16 | 15 | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | 7 |
[edit] See also
- Benetton family
- Benetton Group
- Benetton Rugby
- List of Italian companies
- Benetton Basket
- List of Formula One constructors
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Reuters. "Seven-year ban on traction control likely over", www.ESPN.com, 2001-02-04. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.
- ^ Motor Sport, March 2007, p. 9
- ^ New Benetton launched today. GrandPrix.com (February 5, 1996). Retrieved on September 13, 2006.
- ^ Will Benetton's nationalism cause problems?. GrandPrix.com (January 1, 1996). Retrieved on September 13, 2006.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Williams |
Formula One Constructors' Champion 1995 |
Succeeded by Williams |
 /  Benetton Formula |
|
Formula One cars: B186 | B187 | B188 | B189 | B189B | B190 | B190B | B191 | B191B | B192 | B193 | B193B | B194 | B195 | B196 | B197 | B198 | B199 | B200 | B201 |
