Name: Jean Alesi Nationality: French DOB: June 11th, 1964 Born: Avignon, France Resident: Nyon, Switzerland Races: 118 Won: 1 Points: 179		Name: Gerhard Berger Nationality: Austrian DOB: August 27th, 1959 Born: Woergl, Austria Resident: Monaco Races: 196 Won: 8 Points: 358
Benetton Formula Ltd. Whiteways Technical Centre Enstone, Chipping Norton Oxfordshire OX8 6XZ U.K. Engine: Renault RS9 Nationality: Italian (nominally British until '96) Key personnel: Flavio Briatore (Managing Director) Year formed: 1970 (Toleman) Formula 1 debut: 1981 1996 car/drivers: B196 - Alesi, Berger 1997 car: B197
History Benetton entered Formula 1 as a sponsor of the Tyrrell team in 1983 and then Alfa Romeo in '84 and '85. On January 1st 1986 they made the leap from sponsorship to ownership, buying the Toleman team and moving into their premises in Witney in England.In their first season they achieved two poles, one victory (Berger at the Mexican GP) and 6th place in the constructor's championship and they have improved steadily ever since. From '87 - '90 they finished 5th, 3rd, 4th and 3rd in the championship. In '91 Schumacher made his F1 debut and was signed to a full time ride in '92 partnered by Martin Brundle. Schumacher and Benetton finished their respective championships in 3rd. They could not improve on their performance in '93 but by '94 Schumacher had become a force to be reckoned with and he took the driver's championship in controversial fashion at the end of a controversial season. In 95 Benetton completed the sweep of driver's and constructor's championships with relative ease. 96 was a disappointing year with design problems, engine failure and lack-lustre driving performances leaving the team without a victory and only third place in the constructor's championship.