Benetton
See F1 debuts for Johnny's first period at Benetton.
As the sad demise of Lotus neared its protracted end, Johnny's contract was regarded as
one of the team's most valuable assets and was sold off to the Ligier team, then under the
control of Benetton's Flavio Briatore. After one race for the French team, Johnny returned
to the Benetton fold for the last two races of 1994, impressing the team sufficiently to
be signed up for the 1995 season.
In 1995, Johnny became a Formula 1 GP winner. The historic first victory was at his home GP at Silverstone in
July. This series of screen captures from the TV coverage captures the joy of that very
special special day:
 
 
He ended the season in an excellent fourth place in the World Championship. If the
normally reliable Benetton-Renault hadn't broken down in the last race at Adelaide, Johnny
would have gone one better and snatched third place in the Championship from David
Coulthard. Benetton team-mate Michael Schumacher claimed his second World Championship
over arch rival Damon Hill. Despite the excellent results in 1995, Johnny's season at
Benetton had its disappointments. But he fared better than all of his predecessors as
Michael Schumacher's No 2.
At the end of 1995, Ross Brawn of Benetton confirmed that Johnny had suffered because
the team had concentrated its efforts on Michael Schumacher. That was the first time that
a senior person at Team Benetton publicly accepted that Johnny did not have the full
resources of the team behind him, thus confirming the belief of many of Johnny's
supporters. In May 1996, Flavio Briatore also finally admitted that in 1995 the team was
run "for one driver", ie Michael Schumacher.
"It was a hard year last year," Johnny said in February 1996. "From the
start, there seemed to be rumours that every race would be my last race. It was stupid and
it must have been coming from somewhere. Looking back on it, I think it affected my
performances and upset me psychologically. I really lost all the enjoyment out of racing.
I hardly spoke to Flavio Briatore, the managing director, in the second half of the season
and it was very difficult."
In late 1998, reflecting further on his time at Benetton, Johnny told F1 Racing
magazine:
"I never had a problem with Michael - it was the team. He'd ask to stay in the car
for another two days at a test and they'd say, 'Okay Michael, no problem'. At the four day
pre-Silverstone test in 1995, when I went on to win the race, I only did half a day's
testing. I think he'd had enough on the final afternoon, so I was allowed in.
"The trouble all started after I qualified fourth in the first race in Brazil.
Then we went on to Argentina, where I was quicker than him in the first session. That
night he told the team that he didn't want me to see his data any more. The next morning
he came over to me and said, 'I'm sure you accept you'll have secrets from me and I'll
have some from you so you'll understand if I don't show you my data in future'. But, of
course, he still had access to all of my data. What could I do about it? Nothing. I had no
say in the matter."
Let's remember 1995 for the best of times - Johnny's two
wonderful triumphs with Team Benetton-Renault. After that fantastic maiden F1 win at the
British GP, two months later a second victory was added to his CV at Monza (photo, left).
Johnny confirmed again in 1995 that he is a winner. Although both victories came about
after the main protagonists for the World Championship, Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher,
crashed out, that does not detract from Johnny's accomplishments - to finish first, first
you have to finish! By the end of the 1995 season, Johnny was a two times F1 GP winner,
which makes him a member of a pretty exclusive club. No-one can ever take that away from
him.
Following a period of uncertainty at the end of 1995, Johnny was signed on a one year
contract by the Sauber team.
Race results - Benetton
1995 Circuit Grid Race Out (laps completed)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Nov Adelaide (AUS) 8th DNF Driveshaft (69)
27 Oct Suzuka (JPN) 9th 3rd
20 Oct TI Aida (PAC) 7th 6th
1 Oct Nürburgring (EUR) 7th 5th
24 Sept Estoril (P) 6th 7th
10 Sept Monza (IT) 8th 1st
27 Aug Spa-Francorchamps(B) 4th 7th
13 Aug Hungaroring (H) 9th 4th
30 July Hockenheim (D) 9th 4th
16 July Silverstone 5th 1st
2 July Magny-Cours (F) 10th DNF Accident (2)
11 Jun Montreal (CAN) 6th DNF Accident (0)
28 May Monaco (MC) 7th 4th
14 May Catalunya (SP) 7th 2nd
30 Apl Imola (SM) 8th 7th
9 Apl Buenos Aries (AR) 11th 4th
26 Mar Interlagos (BR) 4th DNF Accident (30)
Benetton-Renault. Team mate: Michael Schumacher.
Total points 45. 4th in Championship (behind Schumacher, Hill
and Coulthard).
1994 Circuit Grid Race Out (laps)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
13 Nov Adelaide (AUS) 7th DNF Gearbox (13)
6 Nov Suzuka (JPN) 5th DNF Spin (3)
No points. Benetton-Ford team mate: Michael Schumacher.
[Lotus to Portugal. Ligier for the European GP only.]
Lotus results
1989 Circuit Grid Race Out (laps)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
18 Jun Montreal (CAN) DNQ
4 Jun Phoenix (USA) 25th 5th
28 May Mexico (MEX) 18th 15th
7 May Monaco (MC) 24th 14th
23 Apl Imola (SM) 23rd 11th
26 Mar Rio de Janeiro (BR) 10th 4th
First year in Formula 1. 5 points.
14th= in Championship. 4th in F1 debut race.
Benetton-Ford team-mate: Alessandro Nannini.
[Returned for Tyrrell-Cosworth at Spa and Portugal]
Every effort is made to ensure factual accuracy but
no responsibility is accepted for this information.
Last revised 6th February 1999.
All rights reserved.
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