Benetton Driver's Profile


Team Benetton
Date of Birth 14 January 1973
Nationality Italian
Car Number 7
Marital Status Engaged


Giancarlo Fisichella

Giancarlo Fisichella began his Formula1 career with Minardi, before moving to Jordan in 1997. A tempestuous partnership with Ralf Schumacher saw a few off track excursions, before the bubbly Italian moved to Benetton in 1998 where he has consistently proved his worth.

Now in his fourth season with the Anglo-Italian team, Fisichella distinguished himself against team mate Alex Wurz during both 1999 and 2000, often out-qualifying and out-racing the Austrian.

He was responsible for 13 out of Benetton's 16 points in 1999, and 18 out the team's total of 20 constructors' points in 2000. He also managed three podium finishes last year: in Brazil, Canada and Monaco.

However, despite intially impressing new boss, Flavio Briatore, he began to lose focus as the season drew to a close, and earned a particularly negative comment from the Italian in the press after the US Grand Prix qualifying session, when he could only manage 15th place.

Two tangles at the first corner with Michael Schumacher in Austria and Germany also limited his ability to score points.

He must now prove himself against new recruit, Jenson Button, who impressed many an observer during his debut season with Williams in 2000.



Team Benetton
Date of Birth 19 January 1980
Nationality British
Car Number 8
Marital Status Single


Jenson Button

Jenson Button is one of the least experienced drivers in Formula1, yet is one of the most highly regarded after a very successful debut year with Williams in 2000.

Then merely a Formula 3 driver, he took part in a head to head shoot-out with the former Williams' test driver, Bruno Junqueira, in 2000. His quick times and calmness outside the car, despite a series of technical failures, impressed the team and his arrival was announced at the outfit's car launch.

He performed steadily last year, and managed to finished eighth in the drivers' championship with twelve points, Despite struggling with qualifying on his first few outings he soon got to grips with it. He soon managed to out-qualify experienced team mate, Ralf Schumacher, and scored the best grid position of the season for Williams in Belgium, when he took P3 for himself.

However, it was not enough to prevent the team from taking up their option on Juan Pablo Montoya for 2001. Williams have only loaned him to Benetton, though, and he is looking forward to performing well enough to return to the Grove based team in 2003.