Benetton Formula 1 Racing Team information
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World Champions in the Constructor's Championships in 1994 and 1995 - with Driver's World Champion Michael Schumacher at the wheel. 

Benetton, the Italian family owned clothing manufacturers, joined the Formula One circuit by purchasing the Toleman team in 1985.   The team won the Mexican Grand Prix during their debut year, 1986, with Gerhard Berger at the wheel, finishing the season in 6th position.

Ford turbo engines replaced the BMW engines for the 1987 season, with drivers Teo Fabi & Thierry Boutsen taking the team to 5th in the Constructor's Championship.

For the 1988 season, Alessandro Nannini replaced Teo Fabi, and with Boutsen, Benetton finished 3rd.  Nannini was joined by Johnny Herbert in 1989, taking the team to 4th in the
constructors championship.

Benetton were 3rd in 1990, a drama filled year during which pilot Nannini lost an arm in a helicopter mishap.  He was replaced by Roberto Moreno.  His team-mate, Nelson Piquet won the final two races of the 1990 season, Suzuka and Adelaide.

Nelson Piquet, being paid per points scored in the championship, won the 1991 Canadian Grand Prix after Nigel Mansell’s Williams Renault stopped on the last lap.

Michael Schumacher joined Benetton in 1992 and finished third in the Driver's Championship.

Schumacher's Benetton won the 1993 Portuguese Grand Prix while team-mate Riccardo Patrese scored a second place at the Hungarian GP to take the team to third place in the constructors championship.

1994 was Michael Schumacher's year, steering his Benetton to become World Champion. Williams, however won the Constructor's Championship during a controversial year for the team.  Benetton was discovered to have a banned computer software driver aide (a launch control option) although Benetton maintained they were not using it.  Schumacher was disqualified during the British Grand Prix after overtaking Damon Hill during the warm-up lap and then ignoring the subsequent black flag. Schumacher was given a $500,000 fine and a two race ban, although it didn't stop his march to becoming World Champ.

Schumacher was again disqualified after winning the 1994 Belgium Grand Prix, this time for a wooden plank wearing too thin on the car.   A fire during refuelling at the 1994 German Grand Prix caused Benetton driver Jos Verstappen some scary moments although he was uninjured in the incident.

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Benetton won the Constructor's Championship in 1995 with 11 Grand Prix victories and Schumacher again won the Driver's Championship with 8 GP wins.

Ferrari lured the World Champion Michael Schumacher with a huge pay packet for the 1996 season, leaving the Benetton team somewhat in disarray.  They failed to win a race all season with drivers Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.

In his final season Berger won the 1997 German Grand Prix as the team regrouped.  Two new drivers in Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz took the wheels during the lack-lustre 1998 season.

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