Origins (1983–1985)

Benetton, the Italian clothing company, first entered Formula One as a sponsor, backing Tyrrell in 1983 and Alfa Romeo in 1984–85. In 1985, they purchased the Toleman team, which had run Ayrton Senna the year before, and rebranded it as Benetton Formula for the 1986 season.

Rise to Competitiveness (1986–1993)

Under the new name, Benetton quickly became a midfield contender. The team scored its first win at the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix with Gerhard Berger. During the early 1990s, under the leadership of Flavio Briatore and with technical direction from Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, Benetton developed into a front-running team.

They became known for nurturing young talent, most notably Michael Schumacher, who joined in late 1991 and won his first race for Benetton at the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix.

Championship Years (1994–1995)

Benetton reached its peak in 1994, when Schumacher won six races and claimed his first World Drivers’ Championship, though the season was marred by controversy and scrutiny over technical infringements. In 1995, with Renault engines, Schumacher and Benetton dominated — winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

Decline and Renault Takeover (1996–2001)

After Schumacher, Brawn, and Byrne departed for Ferrari in 1996, Benetton’s performance declined. The team continued to compete until 2001, when Renault — which had already owned the team since 2000 — officially rebranded it as the Renault F1 Team for the 2002 season.

Legacy

Benetton remains one of F1’s notable independent success stories — a clothing company that rose from sponsorship to become World Champions, playing a key role in the careers of Michael Schumacher and many leading engineers who later powered Ferrari’s dominance.