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.

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, 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 111-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 something of a high.

Controversy

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".

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

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. 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.
• Teo Fabi - scored the team's first pole position at the 1986 Austrian Grand Prix.
• 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.
• Roberto Moreno - scored the team's first 1–2 finish at the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix with Nelson Piquet.
• Nelson Piquet - first (ex-)Formula One World Champion to drive for the team.
• Michael Schumacher - won Drivers' World Championship titles in the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

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
	Benetton B186	BMW 4 in-line (t/c)			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
	Benetton B187	Ford V6 (t/c)			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
	Benetton B188	Ford V8			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
	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
				JJ Lehto			Ret	7	Ret	6						9	Ret
				Jos Verstappen	Ret	Ret					Ret	8	Ret	3	3	Ret	5	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				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

External links

• United Colors of Benetton