Benetton Formula

Benetton
	File:Benetton logo.png
Full name	Benetton Formula Ltd.
Base	Witney, Enstone, United Kingdom
Noted staff	Flavio Briatore; Rocco Benetton; Ross Brawn; Mike Gascoyne; Nigel Stepney; Pat Symonds; Steve Matchett; David Richards; Peter Collins; Rory Byrne; Nicholas Tombazis
Noted drivers	Michael Schumacher; Nelson Piquet; Gerhard Berger; Riccardo Patrese; Jean Alesi; Jenson Button; Thierry Boutsen; Martin Brundle; Alessandro Nannini; Johnny Herbert; Teo Fabi; Giancarlo Fisichella
Formula One World Championship career
First entry	1986 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races entered	260
Constructors'; Championships	1 (1995)
Drivers'; Championships	2 (1994, 1995)
Race victories	27
Pole positions	15
Fastest laps	36
Final entry	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.

History

The Benetton Group entered in Formula One 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 team was sold to the Benetton family. The team began with BMW engines and then later switched to Ford then Renault and finally Playlife.

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.

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, Rory Byrne and 11 other key figures from his two championship winning seasons with Benetton.

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. The team still used the Playlife engines (although descended from Renault motors) they had been using for the last two years. The drivers were Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz. The team scored 20 points, as well as 2 podium finishes in 2000 at Monaco and Canada.

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 111-degree wide angle engine. But continued development allowed Benetton to leave Formula 1 on something of a high, and the cars' performance lifted. Button and Fisichella scored 10 points for the team, including a podium finish for Fisichella in Belgium.

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]

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. This resulted in further inquiries by the FIA, during which, the refuelling rig manufacturer made clear that in their opinion the modification would have resulted in 10% higher flow rates than the rules allowed ^{[citation needed]}. Again the team went without substantial punishment.

Nationality

Benetton Team had a United Kingdom licence from 1986 to 1995 and an Italian licence from 1996 to 2001. The Benetton family wanted this change of nationality in order to have an F1 team of their own country.^[2]^[3]^[4] The team was based in the UK throughout.

Drivers

Benetton drivers include:

Gerhard Berger - scored the team's first and last wins, at the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix and 1997 German Grand Prix. He also scored the team's first podium finish at the 1986 San Marino Grand Prix. Berger also ended his Formula One career with Benetton in 1997.
Teo Fabi - scored the team's first pole position at the 1986 Austrian Grand Prix. He scored the team's first back to back pole positions when he scored pole at the very next race at Monza. Fabi ended his Formula One career with Benetton in 1987.
Giancarlo Fisichella - scored the team's last pole position at the 1998 Austrian Grand Prix and last podium finish at the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix.
Alessandro Nannini - scored his only F1 race win at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix after Ayrton Sennas McLaren was disqualified. It was the teams second ever win and the first since 1986. Nannini unfortunately ended his Formula One career with Benetton in 1990 after he lost his right forearm in a helicopter accident one week after the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix where he finished third.
Nelson Piquet - first (ex-)Formula One World Champion to drive for the team and scored the team's first 1–2 finish at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix with Roberto Moreno. Followed up to win the next race in Australia which was also the 500th World Championship Grand Prix held since 1950. Had his last F1 race win while driving for Benetton in the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix. Piquet ended his Formula One career with Benetton in 1991
Michael Schumacher - started with Benetton at the 1991 Italian Grand Prix and would win Drivers' World Championship titles in the 1994 and 1995 seasons for the team as well as helping the team win its first Constructors Championship in 1995 before moving to Ferrari in 1996.
Jos Verstappen - perhaps most famous after his Benetton burst into flames during a pit stop at the 1994 German Grand Prix^[5]. The resulting fire (causing minor burns to Verstappen's face) led to advances in pit stop safety.

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	DET	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	DET	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	DET	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		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
1993	Benetton B193 Benetton B193B	Ford V8	G		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
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
				JJ Lehto			Ret	7	Ret	6						9	Ret
				Jos Verstappen	Ret	Ret					Ret	8	Ret	3	3	Ret	5	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				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	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
1999	Benetton B199	Playlife V10	B		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
2000	Benetton B200	Playlife V10	B		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
2001	Benetton B201	Renault V10	M		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

Footnotes

^ Reuters (2001-02-04). "Seven-year ban on traction control likely over". www.ESPN.com. Retrieved 2006-10-24. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ "New Benetton launched today". GrandPrix.com. February 5, 1996. Retrieved September 13, 2006.
^ "Will Benetton's nationalism cause problems?". GrandPrix.com. January 1, 1996. Retrieved September 13, 2006.
^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19951129&id=FWoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3B4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3285,4122386
^ http://www.focus-f1.com/Focus-F1/94verstappen.htm

External links

United Colors of Benetton

Sporting positions
Preceded by Williams	Formula One Constructors' Champion 1995	Succeeded by Williams

[briatore_on_alledgely_cheating_benneton-1] Reuters (2001-02-04). "Seven-year ban on traction control likely over". www.ESPN.com. Retrieved 2006-10-24. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)

[2] "New Benetton launched today". GrandPrix.com. February 5, 1996. Retrieved September 13, 2006.

[3] "Will Benetton's nationalism cause problems?". GrandPrix.com. January 1, 1996. Retrieved September 13, 2006.

[4] ttp://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19951129&id=FWoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3B4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3285,4122386

[5] ttp://www.focus-f1.com/Focus-F1/94verstappen.htm

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