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Benetton B196

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Benetton B196
Jean Alesi driving the B196 at the 1996 San Marino Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorBenetton Formula Ltd.
Designer(s)Ross Brawn (Technical Director)
Rory Byrne (Chief Designer)
Pat Symonds (Head of R&D)
Nikolas Tombazis (Head of Aerodynamics)
Bernard Dudot (Chief Engine Designer) (Renault)
PredecessorB195
SuccessorB197
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, pushrod
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone, pushrod
EngineRenault RS8/RS8B, 3,000 cc (183.1 cu in), 72° V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted
TransmissionBenetton transverse 7-speed, with the possibility of running a 6-speed sequential semi-automatic
Power700 hp (522 kW; 710 PS) @ 16,000 rpm[2]
FuelElf
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsItaly Mild Seven Benetton Renault
Notable drivers3. France Jean Alesi
4. Austria Gerhard Berger
Debut1996 Australian Grand Prix
Last event1996 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
1601003
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Benetton B196 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1996 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by the experienced pairing of Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, who both moved from Ferrari to replace departing 1994 and 1995 champion Michael Schumacher and his number two, Johnny Herbert. It was Berger's second stint with Benetton having last driven for them back in 1986.

Many thought, Benetton and Alesi included, that this could well be the Frenchman's year to seriously challenge for the title - something many had been predicting he would do since he signed for Ferrari in 1991. However, after achieving the double of Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 1995, the 1996 season saw the team slip slightly from its position of eminence. A direct development of the B195, the new drivers found the B196 difficult to drive, as it had been designed with Schumacher's driving style in mind, but managed to score a series of points and podium finishes. The biggest disappointment was not winning a race for the first time since 1988, although Alesi led in Monaco until he suffered a suspension failure, and Berger led in Germany until his engine failed with three laps remaining.

The team lost second place in the Constructors' Championship to Ferrari at the final race of the season in Japan, at which Alesi crashed out early and Berger also made mistakes.

The B196 was the first Benetton car to race under Italian nationality. It was also test-driven by former Benetton race driver Alessandro Nannini, six years after the helicopter crash which ended his F1 career, and by Vincenzo Sospiri.[3]

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1996 Mild Seven Benetton Renault Renault V10 G 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

References

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  1. ^ "Benetton B196 • STATS F1". Statsf1.com. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  2. ^ "3rd Naturally-Aspirated Era (3NA), Part 2, 1995 - 2000; Egs. 79 to 85. The 3 Litre Formula" (PDF). grandprixengines.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Sandro's Benetton test". Grandprix.com. 25 November 1996. Retrieved 16 November 2014.