Benetton B196

Benetton B196

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Benetton
Team/s	Mild Seven Benetton Renault
Designers	Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne
Drivers	3. Jean Alesi 4. Gerhard Berger
Chassis	carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)	pushrod, three dampers
Suspension (rear)	pushrod, two dampers
Engines	Renault RS8/RS8B 67-degree V10s
Gearbox	Benetton seven-speed longitudinal semi-automatic
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Goodyear
Debut	1996 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	16
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	3

The Benetton B196 was the car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1996 Formula One season. 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.

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, 1996 saw the team slip slightly from its position of eminence. The new drivers found the car difficult to drive (as it had been designed with Schumacher's unusual 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 Berger was extremely unlucky to lose the German GP when his engine failed with three laps to go.

The team lost second place in the Constructors' Championship at the final Grand Prix of the season, at which both drivers made mistakes. This allowed Ferrari to take the advantage.

This was the first Benetton car to race under Italian nationality.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1996	Benetton	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