Benetton B196 – 1996
Jean Alesi
Benetton B196 (1996)
Benetton entered 1996 at a crossroads. The glorious cycle that had brought two Drivers’ titles to Michael Schumacher (1994 and 1995) and the team’s first-ever Constructors’ Championship (1995) had come to an end with the German’s departure to Ferrari. But before Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, and several engineers followed him, they had one more season with Benetton, albeit without the driver who had led them to victory. Thus, the B196 was designed under the direction of Ross Brawn and his chief designer, Byrne, one last time before both moved to Ferrari at the end of 1996. To complete the package, they had access to the Renault V10 RS8, the same engine that would power Williams, that year’s champion.
The B196 was presented in February 1996 in a ceremony in Venice that underlined the team’s ambition. Compared to the B195, there were aerodynamic improvements and a redesigned rear end to optimize airflow over the diffuser. The 3.0-liter V10 engine delivered around 700 horsepower. The gearbox was a seven-speed semi-automatic Benetton unit. The driver seats were filled by Jean Alesi, who had moved from Ferrari, alongside his teammate, the Austrian Gerhard Berger. The pair brought experience and speed, but the team knew that the Williams of Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve started with a clear advantage. The British constructor won twelve out of sixteen races, but the B196 did not look bad in the picture: Alesi achieved eight podiums, including a second place at the San Marino Grand Prix, and was third in Monaco. Berger added two podiums and a victory at the German Grand Prix, the only win by a Benetton without Schumacher since 1988. Reliability was a strong point, and the team scored 68 points, securing third place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind Williams and Ferrari.
This example sports the light blue and white colors, with sponsors Mild Seven and Kingfisher defining an instantly recognizable visual identity. It preceded the Benetton B197, which was slightly more successful, with one victory, eight podiums, and two pole positions.
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Model: Benetton B196
Year: 1996
Country: United Kingdom
Power: 700 hp / 16,000 rpm
Displacement: 3000 cc
Weight: 595 kg (w/ driver)
Top Speed: 335 km/h (estimated)
Engine: Naturally aspirated Renault RS8 V10
Designers: Ross Brawn (technical director), Rory Byrne (chief designer), Pat Symonds (R&D), and Nickolas Tombazis (aerodynamics)
Best Result: 2nd place (5 times: Alesi at the Brazilian, Spanish, German, and Italian GPs; Berger at the British GP)