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BENETTON FORMULA


'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
History
Controversy
Nationality
Benetton drivers
Complete Formula One Results
See also
Footnotes
External links

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 Benetton B191

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.
Benetton's last Formula One car, the B201.

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.

Controversy


The Benetton B194-Cosworth

During the 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.

Nationality


Johnny Herbert driving for Benetton in the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix. Benetton won the 1995 World Constructors' Championship title as a British team.

Benetton Team had a United Kingdom license from 1986 to 1995 and an Italian license from 1996 to 2001. The Benetton family wanted this change of nationality in order to have a F1 team of their own country.[3][4]

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

★ Alexander Wurz

Complete Formula One Results


() (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
Benetton B186 BMW 4 in-line (t/c) BRA ESP SMR MON BEL CAN USE 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
Benetton B187 Ford V6 (t/c) BRA SMR BEL MON USE 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
Benetton B188 Ford V8 BRA SMR MON MEX CAN USE 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
Benetton B188
Benetton B189		 Ford V8 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
Benetton B189B
Benetton B190		 Ford V8 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
Benetton B190B
Benetton B191		 Ford V8 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
Benetton B191B
Benetton B192		 Ford V8 RSA 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
Benetton B193
Benetton B193B		 Ford V8 RSA 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
Benetton B194 Ford V8 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
Benetton B195 Renault V10 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
Benetton B196 Renault V10 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
Benetton B197 Renault V10 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 AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER 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
Benetton B199 Playlife V10 AUS BRA SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA EUR MAL 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
Benetton B200 Playlife V10 AUS BRA SMR GBR ESP EUR MON CAN FRA AUT GER HUN BEL ITA USA JPN MAL'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
Benetton B201 Renault V10 AUS MAL 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


See also



★ Benetton family

★ Benetton Group

★ Benetton Rugby

★ List of Italian companies

★ Benetton Basket

★ List of Formula One constructors

Footnotes



1. Seven-year ban on traction control likely over
2. Motor Sport, 'March 2007', p. 9
3. New Benetton launched today
4. Will Benetton's nationalism cause problems?


External links



★ United Colors of Benetton

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