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Benetton B199

The Benetton B199 was the car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1999 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and Austrian Alexander Wurz, who were both in their second full seasons with the team. Frenchman Laurent Redon was the team test driver.[2]

Benetton B199
Giancarlo Fisichella driving the B199 at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorBenetton
Designer(s)Pat Symonds (Technical Director)
Nick Wirth (Chief Designer)
James Allison (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorB198
SuccessorB200
Technical specifications
ChassisMoulded carbon fibre/honeycomb composite structure moulded in upper and lower halves, with four lateral bulkheads
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrod
EnginePlaylife (Supertec/Renault) FB01, 71-degree V10
TransmissionBenetton six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power750 hp @ 14,000 rpm[1]
FuelAgip
TyresBridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsMild Seven Benetton Playlife
Notable drivers9. Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
10. Austria Alexander Wurz
Debut1999 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
160100
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Design and development

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The B199 was officially launched in January, 1999 at Enstone by company CEO Rocco Benetton. It was the second car designed by Nick Wirth, who was quoted during the launch as stating the B199 was significantly more aggressive in design than the B198 from the previous season. In late 1998, Benetton had introduced a new wind tunnel on site, and added new sophisticated parts including a front-torque transfer system, and a twin-clutch gearbox. As the team had retained both Fisichella and Wurz from 1998, both drivers were heavily involved in testing and development of the new car. As in previous seasons, the car was dominated by Mild Seven sponsorship and finished in the companies sky blue colour.[3][4] [5]

The engines were manufactured by Supertec in an effort between the themselves, Renault and Mecachrome. However, as in 1998 they were badged Playlife to represent one of the Benetton Group companies.[6][7]

The B199 was extensively tested during pre-season. In Barcelona, the cars were very much in the midfield.[8][9] By the final Friday of the January test, Fisichella was nearly 2 seconds slower than David Coulthard's McLaren.[10] During February, development tests ran at Silverstone.[11] The team would also take part in car development tests in June at the circuit, ahead of the British Grand Prix.[12] This gave Redon an opportunity in the car.[13] Over 14 days of testing pre season, the cars completed 4127km.[14]

Racing performance

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At the first round in Australia, the cars qualified in 7th and 10th putting them firmly in the midfield. Fisichella was three tenths off Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine's fastest lap, however both cars were around 2 seconds slower than pole-sitter Mika Hakkinen. In the race, Fisichella managed to finish in 4th, whilst Wurz retired with suspension failure.[15] The team failed to score points at the next round in Brazil, whilst Fisichella managed a fifth place at San Marino.[16] It was Monaco before both cars scored points at the same race, and Wurz got off the mark with a 5th and 6th place respectively.[17]

The B199's crowning moment would come in Canada. Fisichella scored a podium with a second-place finish in the race after starting 7th on the grid.[18]

The remainder of the season would be a myriad of retirements through failures or accidents for the team. The final points scored were at the British Grand Prix, with Wurz managing 5th place.[19][20] The team would finish the season with 16 points, meaning 6th in the Constructors Championship, their worst finish since Benetton's debut season in 1986.[21]

Livery

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The B199 livery is mostly similar to its predecessor apart from its retaining sponsors. The red accents from the Japanese consumer products Akai were removed.

Benetton used the Mild Seven logos, except at the French, British and Belgian Grands Prix, where they were replaced with "Benetton".

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1999 Mild Seven Benetton Playlife Playlife FB01 V10* B AUS BRA SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA EUR MAL JPN 16 6th
Giancarlo Fisichella 4 Ret 5 5 9 2 Ret 7 12† Ret Ret 11 Ret Ret 11 14†
Alexander Wurz Ret 7 Ret 6 10 Ret Ret 10 5 7 7 14 Ret Ret 8 10

* Denotes Supertec-built engines, badged as Playlife

References

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  1. ^ "Engine Playlife • STATS F1".
  2. ^ "Benetton Redon Target". crash.net. 11 January 1999. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Benetton B199 Launch on Saturday". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Benetton Unveils New Car". Motorsport. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Benetton Opens New Wind Tunnel". Motorsport. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Benetton gets Playlife V10s". grandprix.com. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. ^ "THE F1 ENGINE PROJECTS RED BULL MUST SURPASS". the-race.com. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Villeneuve Tops First Day of Barcelona Testing". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Barcelona Testing News from Thursday". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  10. ^ "McLaren Ahead of Ferrari at Barcelona". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Mugello: Ferrari, Minardi - Silverstone: Benetton, Arrows". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Silverstone Test - Day Two: 30 June 1999". crash.net. July 1999. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Silverstone Testing - Day One". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Benetton's Australian Grand Prix Preview". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  15. ^ "1999 Australian Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  16. ^ "The San Marino GP Review". Atlasf1 Autosport. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  17. ^ "MonacoGP". ESPN. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Hakkinen takes victory in action packed Canadian GP". Atlasf1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  19. ^ "1999 RAC British Grand Prix - RACE RESULT". F1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Benetton B199". StatsF1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  21. ^ "1999 Constructor Standings". F1. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
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