Benetton Formula
The Benetton Formula Limited racing team was a Formula 1 racing team, who attended from 1986 to 2001 in the Formula 1 World Championship. The team went in late 1985 out of the Toleman team which had been taken over by the Italian clothing manufacturer Benetton. Mid-1990s, won the Benetton Formula 1 team with the German Michael Schumacher twice in a row the World Cup. By 1995 Benetton went under British license from 1996 with Italian license. 2000 sold the Benetton Group, the team at the French automobile manufacturer Renault, the Renault as F1 team since 2002 took under his own name.
The company Benetton Formula Ltd.. was founded in 1970 as a sponsor partner for various motorsport series.
- 2.1 Statistics in Formula 1
- 2.2 All Grand Prix winner at Benetton
History in Formula 1
1983-1986: sponsoring and own team
Ken Tyrrell was able to win the main sponsor of his Formula 1 team Benetton in 1983. In the following season, Alfa Romeo was also sponsored by Benetton.
In May 1985, Benetton bought the Toleman team, which in 1986 was officially renamed " Benetton Formula 1 Racing Team". As a team manager Peter Collins was lured away by competitors Williams, who had been there previously Team Manager. Collins won in the first episode BMW as engine suppliers for the racing team. Gerhard Berger and Teo Fabi signed contracts as a driver. Berger drove in October 1986 in Mexico 's first win for Benetton out. At the end of the season, the young team was in sixth place in the constructors' standings.
1987-1991: Ford, Briatore and Piquet
After Gerhard Berger was changed to the 1987 season with Ferrari, Thierry Boutsen came as the second driver alongside Fabi the team. When this was announced at the same time was the commitment by Ford to be published as an engine supplier. This Association held for eight years. Once in the years 1987 and 1988 no victories were achieved, Benetton decided to end the collaboration with Peter Collins. In winter 1988, the Benetton family got in touch with Flavio Briatore and won him as Managing Director for the Benetton Formula One team. Even before Collins left the team, he enlisted for 1989 Johnny Herbert. But Herbert was recovering from a serious leg injury in F3000 not fulfill this contract. He came on his debut in Brazil to fourth place, but had problems with his legs and has not convinced Briatore. In the same year, the team recorded its second victory when Alessandro Nannini after the collision between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won the Grand Prix of Japan.
With the help of Bernie Ecclestone Briatore took in 1990 the three -time world champion Nelson Piquet as a driver for Benetton. He also undertook John Barnard as a technical director. Barnard replaced almost the entire workforce. Along with Joan Villadelprat he hiring away from Tyrrell, he formed the new team. Alessandro Nannini 1990 was severely injured in a helicopter accident. As a replacement driver for the year following the accident race in Japan Roberto Moreno was engaged as partner of Piquet. This duo got the first double victory for Benetton. Piquet finished the season favorable one for the team with a victory at the Australian Grand Prix.
After the successful end of season 1990, the expectations for 1991 were high. But Piquet only won the Grand Prix of Canada. After half of the season was Tom Walkinshaw co-owner of the team, and after Barnard had left the team because of failure, his deputy Gordon Kimball was Technical Director. But Walkinshaw sought to fill this place with Ross Brawn, he could also prevail quickly. Ross Brawn brought Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds after their recent trip to the Formula 1 project of Reynard back to Benetton. Walkinshaw sat through some changes in the team. In the late course of the 1991 season, the young German Michael Schumacher came to Benetton, after he had given his highly acclaimed debut at Jordan. Schumacher proved most convincing with above-average performance and even called for the "veteran " Piquet in the same vehicle out, which then ended his F1 career.
1992-1994: Schumacher and the first World Championships
For the 1992 season Benetton undertook alongside his new talent Schumacher experienced British Martin Brundle. The German, however, came better with the Benetton B192 cope and won his first race at the Grand Prix of Belgium. Brundle had to the team after a year despite solid results again leave. Benetton had the second place in the constructors' championship just missed, but was able to record in all season points race. Schumacher was the best non- Williams driver in his first full season World Cup bronze medalist - even ahead of the reigning world champion Ayrton Senna.
1993 also put the McLaren team at Ford engines, so that a competing for the best stage between Benetton and McLaren began. After Senna had won three of the first six races, Ford continued to McLaren as the engine - Benetton had left behind. The season turned out for the team similar to the previous one: Schumacher drove regular podium finishes out and won in Portugal. With the vice-champion of the previous year, Riccardo Patrese, Schumacher at Benetton side made it again but "only" third in the constructors.
For the following season massive rule changes were implemented (Prohibition of electronic driving aids, reintroduction of refueling stops ), the Benetton made it possible to start the arms race with the competition on the same level. The Benetton B194 already promised during test drives a lot and actually dominated the first race of the '94 season. After Senna's death it seemed as if Schumacher is no opponent in the battle for the world championship. Benetton's superiority meant that at least after the " rocket " at the French Grand Prix came up rumors about illegal electronic systems. In fact, the Benetton team had issued the control software of its electronics only with ample delay and repeated insistence of the FIA for review. The FIA found in the study actually files an illegal traction control. However, it could not be proved that such illegal system had been used. The versions of the team, the program code found was only an unused and not accidentally erased remnants of the previous software (1993 such systems were allowed) were not refuted.
Benetton continued to care for negative headlines: After being exposed to a fire accident during refueling of the car of Jos Verstappen Grand Prix of Germany, it was said that the team had made unauthorized adjustments to the fuel tank system. Benetton got some disqualifications and grounding of Michael Schumacher during the season: because of excessive wear of the wooden plank on the floor of the car at the Grand Prix of Belgium and disregard the black flag at the Grand Prix of Great Britain. So Damon Hill had in the last race still chances for the title. At the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide but resigned both titles counterparties in after a controversial collision. Schumacher and Benetton won their first world title.
1995-1997: Renault and two more titles
For the season 1995 trade between the Ligier team, which Briatore had bought in 1994, and Benetton was closed. Walkinshaw went to Ligier and Briatore took the Renault engines to Benetton. This combination proved to be very strong, so that Benetton again a car capable of winning had available. In the 1995 season, Schumacher and teammate Johnny Herbert could realize a total of eleven victories. End of the year were both the drivers 'title and the constructors' title for the first time on the credit side.
Schumacher had signed in the summer of 1995 when rival Ferrari and left the team later this year. Benetton obliged the former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger in the hope that the success story continues. After the 96 car but proved to be too strong tailored to the needs of the migrated Schumacher racing car, both Berger and Alesi made hardly fast lap times and did not bring a single win, Brawn and Byrne left the team also in the direction of Ferrari. Symonds was technical director Nick Wirth and Chief Designer. Although Berger won in Germany in 1997, Benetton continued to fall short of expectations. Berger retired after this season from active motorsport and Alesi signed with Sauber. Also Briatore left Benetton after the failures of 1996 and 1997.
1998-2001: Abortive new beginning and sale
For the 1998 season, the team hoped for a fresh start again. Renault had gotten as an official engine supplier, the door to the Formula 1 talked about the cooperation partner Mecachrome open, now prepared the previous engines for racing. David Richards became the new team manager and Benetton committed as a driver, the young drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz. Richards wanted to again work with Ford, which did not like the Benetton family. This resulted in a dispute that ended in the fact that Richards, the team handed over to the then 29 -year-old Rocco Benetton in October 1998. After the team could not win in 1999, the team was sold on 16 March 2000 for 120 million U.S. dollars to Renault. Part of the deal was that the team would still compete in the years 2000 and 2001 as a Benetton -Renault. The Frenchman sat back Flavio Briatore as team boss, but held initially in the background. The new technical director Mike Gascoyne structured the team to complete. For the 2001 season, Renault rose as an official engine supplier again and offered a new V10 engine, which ended the Kundenmotorära of Benetton. As a driver Fisichella remained on board, at his side Jenson Button has been committed. After the end of the 2001 season, the brand name Benetton finally disappeared from Formula 1 and the team went all the way in the Renault F1 team.