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Benetton B201

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Benetton B201
Jenson Button driving a B201 at the 2001 French Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorBenetton
Designer(s)Mike Gascoyne (Technical Director)
Mark Smith (Chief Designer)
Bernard Dudot (Engine Technical Director)
PredecessorB200
SuccessorRenault R202
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)double wishbone, pushrod
Suspension (rear)double wishbone, pushrod
EngineRenault RS21 V10 (111°) naturally aspirated mid-engine
TransmissionBenetton 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power780 hp @ 17,400 rpm
FuelElf
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsMild Seven Benetton Renault
Notable drivers7. Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
8. United Kingdom Jenson Button
Debut2001 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2001 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
170100
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Benetton B201 was the car with which the Benetton team competed in the 2001 Formula One World Championship; it was the last car constructed and raced by Benetton. It was driven by Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, who was in his fourth year with the team, and Briton Jenson Button, who moved from Williams after his début season in 2000. Australian Mark Webber served as test driver whilst racing in F3000.[1]

Design and development

Parts for the B201 began testing early using a modified B200, known as the B200B. This car was tested up until late January, with both Button and Fisichella working on the RS21 engine and electronic systems for the new car.[2]

On February 2, Fisichella completed the first shakedown of the new B201 before a private press launch. Days later, the car was officially launched in an extravagant ceremony in Piazza San Marco, Venice. The event was said to cost around $500,000.[3]

In early interviews, the team were very satisfied with the development of the new Renault RS21 engine. It was an unusually wide angled 112° configuration which allowed a lower centre of gravity and was notably lighter than previous engines used by Benetton from Supertec. However, due to reliability issues during the season it was strengthened significantly which added to the vehicle weight.[4] The team had hired Mike Gascoyne from Jordan Grand Prix during 2000, and in January 2001 also brought over Gascoyne's former Jordan colleague, Mark Smith.[5][6]

For 2001, Benetton were one of the teams that switched from Bridgestone to the new alternative manufacturer Michelin.[7]

The B201 did not impress in testing, a schedule that included the drivers embarking on 9 days at Estoril Circuit.[8][9] During the season, Renault chief Jean-Jacques His [fr] claimed that the teams 2001 designs were 'hacked' the season prior, and a huge redesign was the reason for their lack of pace.[10]

In season testing was extensive, as they got to grips with the aerodynamic and engine challenges.[11] A major update to the B201 at the midpoint of 2001 allowed a significant improvement for the second half of the year.[4]

The B201 was once again title sponsored by Japanese tobacco company, Mild Seven and finished in a pale blue colour. Many of the sponsors from 2000 were retained including D2, Marconi and Korean Air. When Mild Seven were unable to display logos at races, the drivers names instead replaced their logo on the engine cover.

Racing performance

The season started poorly for the B201. Fisichella qualified 17th at Albert Park, after losing time due to reliability issues. He later described the B201 as undriveable.[12] In the race, both cars were lapped by the field and Button retired late due an exhaust problem.[13] At the second round in Malaysia, the car was still struggling throughout practice and qualifying.[14][15] In the race, only Button finished - in 11th - which marked the teams best result.[16] The B201 finally scored a point at Brazil, when Fisichella finished in sixth place.

As the season moved into Europe, reliability issues continued to hamper the B201's performance. Fisichella would retire in San Marino and Monaco, whilst neither car finished the Austrian Grand Prix. Button nearly scored points in Monaco, where the team had shown pace throughout the weekend, but would finish seventh.[17][18]

After a double retirement in Canada, the team returned to the European Grand Prix with confidence in a new launch control system to be used for the first time on the B201.[19] Whilst some improvements were noted during practice, both cars finished outside the top 10.[20][21] Further developments were added to the B201 ahead of the next race in France, although results did not notably improve until the German Grand Prix. For the first time, both cars finished in the points with Fisichella in fourth, and Button fifth.[22] However, after this success, both cars would retire from the next race and Button from the following two.

The B201's best finish would come in Belgium, with Fisichella finishing third in a chaotic race that was red flagged in the opening laps, before being restarted.[23]

No further points were added to the team total after this race, and the B201 scored a total of 10 points with Benetton finishing the season in seventh place in the Constructors Championship.[24] Overall, the team vastly improved the results in the second half of the season in contrast to the previous 1998–2000 seasons.

Renault B201

Following the conclusion of the season, Renault, who were due to formally become the replacement for Benetton in the World Championship, utilised the B201 for a number of pre-season tests. These took place throughout late 2001 and early 2002 with Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso driving. The cars were repainted in an interim white with yellow livery. The cars were used to test various engine, aerodynamic and electronic improvements.[25]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
2001 Mild Seven Benetton Renault Renault V10 M AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA USA JPN 10 7th
Italy Giancarlo Fisichella 13 Ret 6 Ret 14 Ret Ret Ret 11 11 13 4 Ret 3 10 8 17†
United Kingdom Jenson Button 14† 11 10 12 15 Ret 7 Ret 13 16† 15 5 Ret Ret Ret 9 7

References

  • Henry, Alan, ed. (2001). AUTOCOURSE 2001-2002. Hazleton Publishing Ltd. pp. 72–74. ISBN 1-903135-06-0.
  1. ^ "Benetton Tester Webber Signs F3000 Deal". Autosport. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Benetton Duo Test at Silverstone". AtlasF1. Archived from the original on 2002-02-10. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Best F1 car launches: 2001 Benetton B201 launch in Piazza San Marco, Venice". www.formula1.com. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Benetton B201". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Benetton Confirm Smith's Appointment". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-10-05. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Jordan Designer Quits to Join Benetton". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2002-01-09. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Benetton confirms Michelin deal". grandprix.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Button completes Benetton testing at Estoril". grandprix.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Gascoyne Believes Benetton Needed More Testing". Autosport. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Benetton problems blamed on espionage". crash.net. 17 July 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Benetton hones its aero package in France". Autosport. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  12. ^ "'Undriveable' Benetton for Fisichella". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-04-13. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Poor Start of the Season for Benetton". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-04-14. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Benetton Strike Problems Again". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-04-13. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Benetton Continue to Struggle". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-04-14. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Benetton Boss Happy to Get Car to the Finish". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-04-14. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Promising Performance for Benetton". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-11-11. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Grand Prix de Monaco 2001 - RACE RESULT". F1. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Benetton ready to unleash launch control". RTE. 20 June 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Benetton Show Improved Performance". Atlasf1. Archived from the original on 2001-11-01. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  21. ^ "FORMULA 1 2001 EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS". racing-statistics.com. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Benetton Boosted by Double Points Finish". Autosport. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Belgium GP 2001 - Schu takes a record 52nd win..." crash.net. 2 September 2001. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  24. ^ "BENETTON IN 2001". racing-statistics.co.uk. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  25. ^ "B201: Benetton's last, Renault's first F1 car". unracedf1.com. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
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