Benetton B199
The Benetton B199 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton team competed in the 1999 Formula One season. It was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella and Alexander Wurz, who were both in their second full seasons with the team.
Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
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Constructor | Benetton | ||||||||||
Designer(s) | Pat Symonds (Technical Director) Nick Wirth (Chief Designer) James Allison (Head of Aerodynamics) | ||||||||||
Predecessor | B198 | ||||||||||
Successor | B200 | ||||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||||
Chassis | Moulded 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 | ||||||||||
Engine | Playlife (Supertec/Renault) FB01, 71-degree V10 | ||||||||||
Transmission | Benetton six-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic | ||||||||||
Power | 750 hp @ 14,000 rpm[1] | ||||||||||
Fuel | Agip | ||||||||||
Tyres | Bridgestone | ||||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||||
Notable entrants | Mild Seven Benetton Playlife | ||||||||||
Notable drivers | 9. Giancarlo Fisichella 10. Alexander Wurz | ||||||||||
Debut | 1999 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The B199 contained some sophisticated parts, such as a front-torque transfer system and a twin-clutch gearbox, but these proved troublesome. Furthermore, any performance advantage was negated by the corresponding weight gain and aerodynamic ineffiencies which resulted in a chronic lack of grip.
The team eventually took sixth place in the Constructors' Championship, but this was a major disappointment considering the much better position of the team over the last few seasons.
Benetton used 'Mild Seven' logos, except at the French, British and Belgian Grands Prix.
Complete Formula One results
(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 |
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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 |
References
- AUTOCOURSE 1999-2000, Henry, Alan (ed.), Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1999) ISBN 1-874557-34-9